Emirates SkyCargo has added two Boeing 747-400Fs
to its freighter fleet.
The cargo division of Emirates is expecting 15 more freighters to join its
fleet from announced orders and its freighter conversion program,
plus a boost in belly-hold capacity from new passenger aircraft
deliveries starting with Airbus A350s in late summer 2024,
followed by 777-Xs the year after.
Over the next decade,
Emirates SkyCargo expects to double its existing capacity, add
over 20 new destinations to its freighter network, and offer even
more flexibility and services to its customers with a fleet mix of
over 300 wide-body aircraft comprising: 777s, 777-Fs, 747-Fs,
A350s and A380s.
“While the current market
volatility may cause others to hesitate, Emirates SkyCargo is
pushing full steam ahead with our plans. The medium to long term
projections for global air cargo show an upward trajectory of
between 3-5%. Combine that Dubai’s strategy to double its foreign
trade where multi-modal logistics will play a big role, and the
economic activity happening in markets around the Gulf, West Asia
and Africa, and the opportunity for Emirates SkyCargo is clear,”
said Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates
SkyCargo. “The two new 747-Fs which we have leased will give us immediate
capacity, while we wait for delivery of 5 new 777Fs in 2024 and
2025, and 10 777-300ERs to roll out of our conversion program over
the next 5 years. We believe even these additional planes will not
be sufficient. By then, we’ll have the MRO set-up to quickly and
efficiently scale-up our freighter conversion program if we needed
to.”
Secured on a long-term wet-lease basis, the two Boeing
747-Fs complement Emirates SkyCargo’s existing fleet of 11 Boeing
777 freighters, and are currently being deployed to Chicago thrice weekly and to Hong Kong nine times
per week.
“The new aircraft mean we can expand our freighter network
and amplify the connectivity with the main Emirates network. The
new fleet mix also gives us more flexibility to serve our
different customers even better,” Nabil Sultan added. “Emirates SkyCargo is also
investing to develop new products, and to speed up digitisation
and technology innovation. It is our ambition to lead the market
in delivering specialist solutions that are fast, reliable,
flexible, and efficient. More exciting developments to come. Stay
tuned.”
