Emirates SkyCargo Completes Another Remarkable Year

HARARE - Emirates SkyCargo, one of the largest and most progressive air cargo operators globally, has achieved another successful year and major milestones over the past twelve months.

In 2013, Emirates SkyCargo expanded its network and range of destination options for its customers by launching four new cargo-only destinations which began with Hanoi in Vietnam on 6 February, Chicago in the US on 3 March, Kano in Nigeria on 4 October, and Quito in Ecuador on 3 December. It also began services to Warsaw, Algiers, Haneda, Stockholm Clark, Conakry, Sialkot and Kabul â€" with the launch of passenger services offering belly-hold capacity to these eight destinations.

To support its network growth, Emirates' SkyCargo expanded its fleet during 2013 by adding three new Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft. It now operates 12 freighters, 10 B777 Fs and two B747-400 ERFs which currently serve 43 destinations around the world.

In March 2013, the freight division of Emirates strengthened its Cool Chain Premium Service with the appointment of an additional cool chain solutions provider, CSafe. In 2013, SkyCargo carried more than 4000 tonnes of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and healthcare products through its Cool Chain Premium Service.

With the Emirates and Qantas partnership that began in March 2013, Emirates SkyCargo and Qantas Freight cooperated on cargo capacity on each other's passenger services offering cargo capacity to a combined total of over 200 ports across six continents.

In April 2013, Emirates SkyCargo became the first carrier to implement Electronic-Air Waybill (e-AWB) shipments under the industry's recently ratified multilateral e-AWB standard, demonstrating its continued leadership in adopting the latest innovations and industry standards.  

During the year Emirates SkyCargo has entered into over 190 global and local bilateral and multi-lateral e-AWB agreements with its customers to support the transition from paper Air Waybills (AWB) to electronic Air waybills.

In May 2013, the Emirates Group which includes SkyCargo announced its annual results.  For the first time Emirates SkyCargo reported a revenue over AED 10 billion reaching AED 10.3 billion (US$ 2.8 billion) mark, an 8 per cent increase over last year. Its tonnage increased 16 per cent reaching a remarkable 2.1 billion tonnes in a shrinking airfreight market, highlighting its ability to grow revenues against the industry norm.

The airline carried 2.1 million tonnes of cargo across its network in the 2012-13 financial year and was ranked number one amongst the top airlines for scheduled Freight Tonne Kilometres flown internationally according to the latest World Airline Transport Statistics published by IATA.  

This year SkyCargo has won numerous of prestigious industry awards, including ‘Cargo Airline of the Year 2013' (Air Cargo Week), ‘Cargo Airline of the Year 2013', ‘Best Middle East Cargo Airline' (both Air Cargo News), ‘Best Air Cargo Carrier Middle East' (AFSCA), ‘Cargo Operator of the Year' (SCATA) and ‘Air Cargo Excellence Award' (Air Cargo World), to name but few.

Looking forward into 2014, Emirates SkyCargo operations will move to Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport which is set to become the home of its freighter operations from April 2014.

Upon completion of the first phase, followed by the installation of the cargo handling system and the fitment of the interior by April 2014 and full completion by mid-September, the terminal will be equipped to handle 700,000 tonnes of cargo and can be further expanded by an additional 300,000 tonnes in the second phase.