Dubai/ London, 03 August 2026- Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, is flying the best of British exports across diverse sectors from delicate seasonal produce to high-performance engineering and lifesaving pharmaceuticals on its flights. The air cargo carrier transported over 57,000 tonnes of exports from the UK during FY 2025-26 to the rest of its global network, an increase of 11% from the previous year (FY 2024-25).  Between April and June 2026, Emirates SkyCargo has seen exports from the UK growing at 7% when compared to the same period last year.

Khawla Abdulla, VP Cargo Commercial Europe, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “The strong growth in exports from the UK reflects the increasing importance of fast, reliable and globally connected logistics networks in enabling international trade. Emirates SkyCargo plays a vital role in linking businesses across UK and Europe with high-growth markets in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australasia, providing seamless access to customers around the world. By bridging UK’s regional production centres directly to our expanding global network via our hub in Dubai and through our specialised cargo solutions, we continue to strengthen the flow of trade supporting industries ranging from life sciences and aerospace to perishables and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, we ensure that customers around the world have rapid access to premium international products. As demand continues to grow, Emirates SkyCargo remains committed to connecting businesses with opportunities worldwide.”

Building on its strong performance, Emirates SkyCargo is supporting continued growth in UK exports, delivering the best of UK innovation globally with particular focus on the aerospace, life sciences and perishables exports. The cargo carrier offers wide body cargo connectivity on over 140 weekly flights from eight UK gateways including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.

 Aerospace and Advanced Technology

One of the global leaders in the aerospace industry, the UK remains at the forefront of driving new technologies and innovations. Between January and June 2026, Emirates SkyCargo has transported over 570 tonnes of aircraft parts and aerospace components from the UK to Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. Emirates SkyCargo’s specialised product in the Aerospace and Engineering vertical, AOG, grew by more than 300% year-on-year between Jan and June 2026, highlighting the carrier’s ability to provide rapid and reliable logistics for critical aviation requirements.

Beyond aerospace, Emirates SkyCargo has transported high-value technology infrastructure, including data centre equipment and server racks from the UK to global markets. 

The majority of high-tech equipment and aerospace components transported by Emirates SkyCargo originate from manufacturing and engineering clusters around Manchester and London, with these airports serving as key gateways linking these products directly to international markets.

With specialised handling capabilities and a global network, Emirates SkyCargo enables the seamless transport of critical technology assets to markets worldwide.

Life Sciences

Emirates SkyCargo has also played a key role in transporting world-class life sciences products whether pharmaceuticals, biologics or clinical trial medications from the UK to other markets. In the first half of 2026, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 1600 tonnes of pharmaceuticals on its aircraft from the UK. The carrier also carried more than 26 tonnes of clinical trial medications from the market. 

Newcastle is among the carrier's key regional gateways for pharmaceutical exports, serving a major life sciences manufacturing base in the Northeast and enabling time and temperature sensitive products to connect rapidly with markets worldwide. 

With its modern fleet, GDP certified infrastructure as well as specialised multi-tier offerings for time and temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals, Emirates SkyCargo continues to be an industry leader in the global movement of pharmaceuticals by air. 

Food & Perishables

Over the first half of 2026, Emirates SkyCargo has been a key enabler of exports for British farms and food producers. The carrier facilitated the exports of specialty food from the UK, including more than 1500 tonnes of Scottish Shellfish as well as over 1200 tonnes of smoked salmon to international markets around the world. Much of the Scottish seafood transported by Emirates SkyCargo is shipped directly from Glasgow and Edinburgh, enabling exporters to reach international markets faster and helping premium products arrive fresher to consumers around the world.

Over 1000 tonnes of food items were flown from the UK to the UAE during this period- the equivalent of 10 fully loaded B777 freighter aircraft. 250 tonnes of strawberries and more than 150 tonnes of cheese were among some of the food items flown to Dubai. 

With Emirates Fresh, the carrier’s specialised product for perishables with three service levels designed for different handling requirements, Emirates SkyCargo ensures that items like fruits, vegetables, seafood and meat are protected from origin to destination. 

Supporting other verticals

In addition to the above verticals, Emirates SkyCargo also facilitated movement of premium automobiles manufactured in the UK and precious works of art to museums and collections around the world.  

Emirates Courier Express, Emirates SkyCargo’s  door to door cross-border delivery solution for businesses is also helping British businesses and retailers in fashion and other consumer goods and components reach global customers.

Protecting wildlife

Over and above the movement of trade goods, Emirates SkyCargo also remains committed to the protection of wildlife and habitats around the world. Recently the carrier supported British charity Dogs 4 Wildlife to transport two conservation dogs trained in the UK to Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe. The dogs are working alongside rangers on the frontlines of the park protecting the wildlife of the park from illegal poaching activities. Emirates is one of the founding signatories of the Buckingham Palace Declaration and member of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce. The airline is a global leader in the fight against trafficking and exploitation of wildlife.

 About Emirates SkyCargo

Emirates SkyCargo is an important facilitator of trade across international markets offering cargo capacity on Emirates’ fleet of over 280 aircraft including dedicated freighters. The cargo carrier has embarked on an ambitious programme of fleet and network expansion to keep up with global demand for air cargo capacity. Since March 2026, the airline has taken delivery of six new Boeing 777-F production freighters and its first Boeing 777-300ERSF converted from a passenger aircraft. Four additional Boeing 777-F production freighters and the second Boeing 777-300ERSF will join Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter fleet by the end of 2026.

 Customers can contact their local Emirates SkyCargo office or visit skycargo.com for more information on flights and services available to them.

However, unlike other dedicated freighters in Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet, A6-EBK, a Boeing 777-300ERSF, is not a factory produced freighter. Instead, it is a special freighter (SF) that has been converted from a Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft from Emirates’ fleet.

Transforming a passenger configured 777-300ER into a cargo only aircraft was not simply a matter of removing seats and adding cargo doors. It was a complex process spanning several months that redesigned the aircraft’s structure, systems and operating philosophy to meet the demands of cargo transport. While maintaining the aircraft’s original aerodynamic performance and structural integrity without compromising operational safety, the conversion introduced extensive modifications to the fuselage, floor structure, loading systems, avionics, environmental controls and other systems within the aircraft.

Fuselage Modifications

As a first step, the aircraft’s interiors including seats, overhead stowage, galleys and lavatories were completely removed.  This allowed the team to modify the interior of the aircraft to accommodate cargo pallets.

A key characteristic of a freighter aircraft is its ability to carry large cargo pallets and this required the installation of a large maindeck cargo door. One of the most visible changes in the entire conversion process, creating the opening for this door required significant structural reinforcement and replacement of large sections of the fuselage structure.

Next, a rigid barrier with the ability to absorb any impact up to nine times the force of gravity (9G) was fitted at the front of the main deck, consistent with regulatory and safety configurations in a production freighter.

Freighters often carry a limited number of support staff in addition to the crew on long haul missions, such as grooms accompanying thoroughbred racehorses. To support the crew and additional members, a crew rest area and supplementary seating were installed during the conversion.

The flight deck was also modified to accommodate additional controls for environmental and safety systems optimised for the transportation of cargo.

Flooring and Cargo Management

In order to support heavier cargo pallets in the maindeck of the aircraft as compared to passengers, the floor structure used for passenger transport was completely removed and replaced with reinforced floor beams and a higher-capacity floor structure capable of supporting concentrated loads from heavy pallets and cargo handling equipment.

The conversion process included installation of a complete cargo loading system consisting of powered rollers, locks and guides was installed permitting ground crews to move large cargo units efficiently through the aircraft and secure them for flight. Additionally, an advanced cargo monitoring system including smoke detection and fire suppression was installed.

Aircraft Systems

Emirates SkyCargo offers a specialised suite of products to transport time and temperature sensitive cargo including life-saving medications and bio-innovations. This needs temperatures inside the aircraft to be maintained a specified ranges, sometimes as low as 5 degrees Centigrade. During the conversion, the environmental control system of the passenger aircraft was adapted to monitor and control airflow, ventilation, and temperature to support sensitive shipments such as pharmaceuticals and perishables. Other electrical systems were also modified to support the transportation of cargo.

Safety Certification & Final Preparations

Last but not the least, the conversion needed to achieve regulatory approval to show that the process met strict requirements around compliance with safety standards covering structural strength, systems reliability, fire protection and flight performance. This was demonstrated through extensive documentation, ground tests and flight evaluations before the aircraft could start transporting cargo.

Finally, the aircraft also received a full repaint and application of the latest Emirates SkyCargo livery ahead of its first commercial flight for Emirates SkyCargo.

Emirates SkyCargo is a global facilitator of trade transporting cargo across more than 150 destinations across six continents. The air cargo carrier has been steadily expanding its fleet in 2026 with six Boeing 777-F production freighters already delivered since March 2026 in addition to the converted freighter. The carrier is slated to receive a further four Boeing 777-F production freighters and one additional converted freighter later this year. This expansion of capacity is allowing Emirates SkyCargo to provide further customer choice and flexibility as well as support critical global supply chains and trade lanes.

Watch a video showcasing how an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft is converted into a Special Freighter.

Dubai, UAE, 30 June 2026- Emirates is marking a significant milestone in the expansion of its cargo fleet by becoming the first airline cargo carrier* to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger to freighter converted aircraft. The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo.

The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25% increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter. At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods which currently constitute around 20% of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.

Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said: “The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility. We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world.

“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing. We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai.”

Ambitious fleet and network expansion

The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026. As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026. Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.

Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet and network expansion reaffirm the carrier’s commitment to play a larger role in supporting global trade, linking new destinations with businesses, and deepening connectivity to key production hubs already on the carrier's global network spanning six continents.

*combination carrier

An important facilitator of international trade, Emirates SkyCargo moved over 439,000 tonnes of cargo on its freighter and passenger flights from 12 markets in East and Southeast Asia in FY 25/26. This was an increase of around 5% from the cargo tonnage transported in FY24/25, representing the growing demand from businesses and exporters in the region to rapidly and securely transport goods to other parts of the world.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “East and Southeast Asia are key manufacturing zones for the global economy making major contributions in the production of high-tech goods, the export of perishables as well as being an important origin for global e-commerce flows. By deploying additional freighter flights and by expanding our freighter footprint in response to customer demand, we are providing the rapid connectivity that ensures that exporters can get their cargo quickly and safely to their end customers across the world. Emirates SkyCargo offers unmatched choice and flexibility, not just through our freighter flights to 12 cities in this region but also through our passenger flights offering wide body bellyhold capacity from 25 destinations to Dubai and beyond. Every week, customers in the East and Southeast Asian region have access to over 12,000 tonnes of cargo capacity to move their goods to destinations on Emirates’ global network.”

Scaling up freighter flights

Emirates SkyCargo is doubling freighter capacity to Narita Airport, Tokyo, increasing operations from one to two weekly freighter flights. The second weekly freighter serves Japan’s strong manufacturing industry across diverse sectors such as automotive, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

The air cargo carrier is growing up its flights to Hong Kong with 37 weekly freighter flights to accommodate maximum flexibility and choice for customers in this export-led economic corridor. Emirates SkyCargo has also expanded its freighter footprint into Central China with three weekly flights from Zhengzhou, connecting the industrial hub of Henan province to Dubai and beyond.

Emirates SkyCargo has restarted freighter flights from Singapore with a once weekly flight connecting to Dubai via Mumbai, forming a critical trade lane across Asia.

The air cargo carrier will also be doubling its footprint in Taiwan, boosting its service from one weekly to twice weekly freighters to Taipei in response to demand for movement of high-tech electronic cargo.

Emirates SkyCargo continues to experience robust demand for the once weekly freighter service to Bangkok supporting exports of sophisticated tech products, perishables, fashion and other consumer products.

The carrier also maintains its four weekly freighter services to Hanoi supporting exporters in Vietnam with rapid connectivity to Dubai and the Middle East, a large market for Vietnamese exports for perishables as well as to other global markets.

Extensive bellyhold wide-body capacity

In tandem with its dedicated freighter service, Emirates SkyCargo also harnesses the cargo capacity of its wide-body passenger flights to offer industries in East and Southeast Asia seamless, high-frequency and high-capacity cargo solutions. Currently the air cargo carrier provides capacity on over 320 passenger flights every week across the region.

Product Portfolio

Emirates SkyCargo offers a specialist product portfolio to safely transport goods that require specialised handling including

• Emirates Vulnerable offering secured and monitored air transport lanes for state-of-the-art electronics including global new product launches
• Emirates Fresh for the transportation of perishables and fresh produce
• Emirates Pharma for life saving medicines and Emirates Vital for transportation of clinical trials and bio-innovation materials.

Emirates SkyCargo also reinforced its commitment to customers in the East and Southeast Asian region with its presence at Air Cargo China 2026, Asia’s largest trade fair for the airfreight and air logistics industry, gathering major players and exporters. Between 24 and 26 June 2026, customers attending the event can directly engage with the Emirates SkyCargo team at stand W5.329. Other customers can visit skycargo.com to find more information on the services available to them.

Dubai/London, 18 June 2026 - Emirates SkyCargo has partnered with Dogs 4 Wildlife, a UK-based charity that protects endangered wildlife in Africa through the deployment of specialist conservation dogs.

The first phase of the partnership will see Emirates SkyCargo transport dogs from the UK to Southern Africa, where they will work alongside wildlife park rangers to track poachers and strengthen conservation efforts.

The first two dogs, Vega and Kuda, both Belgian Malinois, are specialist human scent tracking dogs trained by Dogs 4 Wildlife for conservation operations. Selected for their exceptional drive, determination, and natural tracking abilities, Vega and Kuda will help form a new conservation K9 unit supporting wildlife protection efforts in Zimbabwe.

The dogs are scheduled to travel from London to Harare via Dubai in late June and will be deployed at Zimbabwe’s Matusadona National Park on their arrival.

Welfare-focused animal transportation services Emirates SkyCargo, the air freight division of Emirates, transports cargo for businesses across Emirates’ global network. Through its specialist live animal transportation services, the airline provides reliable and welfare-focused transportation for animals. This is supported by dedicated handling processes, purpose-built facilities, and trained experts across its global network.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Protecting wildlife is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration, innovation, and long-term commitment. Through our partnership with Dogs 4 Wildlife, we are proud to support the deployment of highly trained conservation dogs, such as Vega and Kuda, across conservation initiatives. These animals will play a vital role in protecting endangered species and strengthening conservation efforts on the ground. This partnership reflects Emirates SkyCargo’s broader commitment to combatting illegal wildlife trade and supporting organisations that are creating meaningful impact for wildlife and global communities.”

Darren Priddle, Founder and Volunteer Trustee, Dogs 4 Wildlife, said: "We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Emirates SkyCargo on this important initiative. The deployment of conservation dogs such as Vega and Kuda represents far more than the transportation of two animals; it represents the movement of specialist conservation capability that will directly support wildlife rangers working on the front line of wildlife protection.

“At Dogs 4 Wildlife, our mission is to protect endangered species by providing highly trained conservation dogs and supporting the dedicated people who work tirelessly to safeguard wildlife every day. Having the support of a global organisation such as Emirates enables us to expand that impact and deliver proven conservation tools to the areas where they are needed most. This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations from different sectors come together with a shared commitment to protecting wildlife for future generations."

A commitment to wildlife protection

The partnership between Emirates SkyCargo and Dogs 4 Wildlife aligns closely with Emirates’ longstanding commitment to wildlife protection. The airline maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the illegal wildlife trade, including Emirates SkyCargo’s ban on the transportation of hunting trophies. Emirates SkyCargo also operates robust screening processes and works closely with industry partners, government authorities, and conservation organisations to help prevent the movement of illicit wildlife products through global supply chains. Since launching its illegal wildlife trade awareness programme, Emirates has trained more than 46,000 employees across its business, helping frontline teams identify, report and respond to potential wildlife trafficking risks. Emirates has also achieved IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification, which includes a dedicated wildlife module aligned with the Buckingham Palace Declaration.

The announcement comes as the industry and conservation community mark the 10th anniversary of the Buckingham Palace Declaration and gathers for the United for Wildlife High-Level Business Forum in London, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in tackling illicit wildlife trade and protecting endangered species for future generations. Emirates has been involved with United for Wildlife since becoming a founding signatory of the Declaration and continues to contribute to industry-wide efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.

Emirates currently serves India with three weekly freighters – one to Mumbai and two to Ahmedabad – as well as bellyhold capacity in 167 passenger services to nine gateways. The new freighter service to Mumbai will launch on 4 March 2026, and connect Dubai, Singapore and India, while the Ahmedabad service will be a direct and dedicated freighter, and also launch in March. The airline expects to carry key commodities such as pharmaceuticals, fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishables as well as personal electronic devices on both freighters. 

In addition to the freighters to India, Emirates SkyCargo will also deploy a dedicated weekly freighter to Dhaka, Bangladesh, from April 2026. This further expands the airline’s freighter network, reaffirming the burgeoning demand and Emirates SkyCargo’s longstanding commitment to the region.

“Our new freighter frequencies to India reflects both the strength of India’s trade corridors, and our long-term commitment to supporting them,” said Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo. “India is a powerhouse of manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, perishables and eCommerce and the demand for reliable and stable capacity continues to grow. These additional freighters bolster our existing operations, by offering more connectivity and capacity to ensure we continue to serve our customers in India and across the globe.” 

As the third anniversary of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) nears, bilateral trade is booming, with India’s exports to the UAE growing faster than its overall export growth. Emirates SkyCargo supports the trade agreement, moving goods every week including 600 tonnes of pharmaceuticals, 500 tonnes of perishables, a significant tonnage of garments, textiles and clothing and a growing number of personal electronics such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. 

Beyond aircraft capacity, Emirates SkyCargo has built a vast trucking network, to reach more offline destinations across India. In 2025, over 1,000 Emirates SkyCargo trucks transported almost 5,500 tonnes of cargo across India, carrying shipments such as automotive and aircraft spare parts, clothing and textiles, machinery, tools, spices and even a satellite. The airline also deployed temperature-controlled reefer trucks to transport delicate pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. 

The airline recently added Coimbatore and Goa to its road network as offline stations, unlocking new opportunities for businesses in these cities and surrounding areas to access global markets, via Emirates SkyCargo. Coimbatore in particular is a thriving hub of manufacturing and is home to a large number of SMEs working in engineering, textiles, automotive and more, so this access significantly contributes to India’s export economy. 

Since starting operations to Mumbai and Delhi in 1985, Emirates SkyCargo has significantly scaled its network, and now serves nine cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkota, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. With the Cargo Open Sky policy for exports in India, the airline continues to grow its reach, strengthen outbound capabilities, and connect more primary and secondary cities to its well‑established global network. 

This week, Emirates SkyCargo has been participating in industry discussions and workshops at Air Cargo India, one of the industry’s premier events. In addition to a full schedule of meetings, networking events and media briefings, the airline’s leadership joined panel discussions alongside other industry leaders to explore the significant evolution in India’s logistics ecosystem over the last two years. Emirates SkyCargo was also named International Airline of the Year at the STAT Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo, as voted for by the outlet’s international readers. The accolade, which Emirates SkyCargo received for the third consecutive year, is a testament to the airline’s commitment to facilitating the world’s rapidly changing supply chains.

Dubai, UAE, May 16, 2025 – Emirates has unveiled its highly-anticipated bespoke A380 livery, dedicated to its new door-to-door delivery solution, Emirates Courier Express. The iconic passenger aircraft will take to the skies, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to redefining the express delivery experience by merging its four-decade experience of moving people and goods worldwide. 

Managed in-house at Emirates Engineering, the Emirates Courier Express livery required the A380 to undergo a full repaint, as part of an expansive project encompassing design, production installation and painting of the livery to bring the customised aircraft to life. 

Inspired by brown paper packages, the aircraft’s nose and fuselage are wrapped in kraft paper, torn to reveal the UAE flag on the tailfin and the Emirates Courier Express logo emblazoned on each side. The logo also adorns each of the four engines, while the belly features the classic red Emirates branding. A large ‘special delivery’ stamp, coupled with instantly recognisable handling stamps decorate the body, bringing the design to life. 

The striking nose-to-tail livery highlights exactly what makes this door-to-door express delivery solution so innovative: the seamless integration between Emirates’ fleet of over 250 widebody aircraft and high-frequency global network, with Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class infrastructure and deep understanding of logistics. It also marks the first cargo inspired livery on an Emirates’ passenger aircraft. 

The Emirates Courier Express A380 took off to O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg this week, carrying both passengers and parcels directly to their destination.

Dubai, UAE, April 2, 2025 – Backed by almost four decades’ experience in keeping goods and people moving all over the world, Emirates has launched Emirates Courier Express, an end-to-end delivery solution that is set to redefine the express delivery experience. 

To ensure Emirates Courier Express addressed industry-wide challenges, Emirates worked with various global customers to pilot and finesse the product, with the goal to make it as fast, reliable and flexible as possible, before launching to market. Over the last year, Emirates Courier Express transported several thousands of packages from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa and the UK. The average delivery time is less than 48 hours. Now, Emirates Courier Express is open for business, for businesses. 

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said, “Emirates Courier Express is an evolution in how we move goods across the globe, at speed and at scale. Building on our world-class and well-established infrastructure, and reimagining traditional logistics processes where necessary, this innovative solution does not just meet the Emirates Gold Standard of reliability and excellence but sets a new benchmark for what’s possible. This is only the beginning of our vision to continuously innovate and lead the charge in the express delivery sector.” 

Traditionally, cross-border delivery is managed via a global hub-and-spoke model, with a package making multiple stops before arriving at its end destination. Emirates Courier Express has broken this mould. Just like passengers, packages will travel from origin to destination directly, leveraging the breadth of Emirates’ vast global network and near-unparalleled flight frequencies. This approach significantly reduces time in transit, reduces package handling and offers Emirates Courier Express customers’ a competitive edge in getting their goods to end users. Direct connectivity is matched with different service levels, ranging from next day urgent delivery to a two-day Premium service, along with a pipeline of innovative new products. 

At launch, Emirates Courier Express will be active and available in seven markets, however the potential network growth is unlimited: wherever Emirates flies, Emirates Courier Express can deliver. Expansion to additional markets is already in the works. 

Harnessing the fleet of the world’s largest international airline, Emirates Courier Express has access to over 250 all widebody passenger and freighter aircraft to move packages worldwide. Complemented by a trusted, reliable and integrated cross border network of partners to manage the customs clearance and first and last mile transportation, the solution delivers door-to-door. This integration into the airline’s existing infrastructure allows Emirates Courier Express to handle volume fluctuations from seasonal spikes while maintaining cost stability, ultimately empowering customers to plan and budget with confidence. 

This seamless integration also enables Emirates Courier Express to provide bespoke and tailored solutions, whether transporting fashion and mobile phones or the most critical medical equipment. A team of dedicated specialists provide niche segment solutions, facilitated by the airline’s extensive freight and logistics infrastructure, including cool chain capacity, allowing the transportation of specialist or sensitive products from launch.

Prioritising ease of business, Emirates Courier Express’ is entirely digital, with a purpose-built tech platform integrating directly into customer software and supports additional bespoke shipping solutions. Advanced tracking systems, real-time updates, and seamless integration, ensures complete efficiency, reliability, quality, and transparency from collection to delivery across the world. 

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo said, “Emirates Courier Express is the result of challenging the status quo. Along with the industry, we watched the increasing volumes of cross border shipping and challenged ourselves to find a better way to transport these goods faster and more efficiently. The new product launch reflects our ongoing commitment to push the boundaries to introduce innovations which drive real impact and ensure our customers always have access to the fastest, most reliable and cost-effective solutions available." 

To find out how Emirates Courier Express could redefine your approach to international delivery, visit our website.

Working together, The Donkey Sanctuary and Emirates have co-created the Aviation Risk and Threat Assessment operational guide to highlight the risks posed by the donkey skin trade and its association with serious and organised criminal activity.

According to The Donkey Sanctuary’s latest figures, six million donkeys are killed for their skins each year, the majority in Africa. These skins are then exported across the world, by ship and by air, before being used to make traditional medicine and remedies.

In research by The Donkey Sanctuary and the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), significant evidence exposed the link between the movement of donkey skins with other illegal wildlife trafficking and organised crime. The unregulated and unhygienic skin trade also poses a serious threat to global biosecurity.

Emirates has already implemented a ban on the carriage of donkey hides. In February this year, African Heads of State endorsed a continent-wide moratorium on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins at the 37th African Union (AU) Summit. Within days of the AU decision, Emirates extended its zero-tolerance policy on the carriage of banned species, hunting trophies and other associated products, to include donkey hides and parts.

Already a leader in efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, the airline has established stringent protocols including screening, spot checks during transit, in depth document verification, and confirming the authenticity of permits; in addition to providing education and training for its employees across cargo and passenger operations to identify and report smuggled wildlife. 

The co-created factsheet will provide the wider aviation industry with critical knowledge in the fight against the donkey skin trade. The operational guidelines explain the biosecurity risk of smuggling inadequately processed donkey skins alongside legitimate cargo such as leather or textiles, for example. It also highlights concealment methods and crime convergence, where networks involved in the donkey skin trade may also be linked to organised crime such as wildlife and drug trafficking.

By highlighting the risks associated with the donkey skin trade and offering practical advice, The Donkey Sanctuary and Emirates hope other airlines will be encouraged to bolster their own detection and enforcement efforts to stop traffickers and criminals in their tracks.

Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “This is another welcome step in the battle against the illegal trade in donkey skins within the transportation sector. We are proud to work alongside Emirates, which is setting new standards with its support for our work and the tightening of its own trafficking polices. We hope that others in the aviation industry will follow suit and join us in cracking down on this cruel and unstainable trade. 

“All measures that shine a light on the inhumane trade in donkey skins are to be applauded, especially given its links to illegal wildlife trafficking and organised crime as well as the threat to human health for everyone involved at every stage in the process.” 

Robert Fordree, Senior Vice President of Cargo Operations Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo said: “We are proud to bring our expertise in both air logistics and the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking to the preparation of these guidelines. In close collaboration with The Donkey Sanctuary, we have highlighted some of the ways bad actors can exploit the logistics network to transport illicit goods, while also suggesting operational initiatives that can be implemented across the aviation ecosystem to stop trafficking in its tracks. Our hope is that by working with likeminded partners, we can protect the world’s biodiversity for generations to come.”

Dubai, UAE, November 19, 2024 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has joined the Move to -15^oC global coalition, securing its place as the first airline to bring its expertise to the initiative. As a world-leader in the transport of perishable goods, Emirates will lend its wealth of knowledge and experience in handling and shipping to the practical application of this potentially industry-changing initiative. 

First launched at COP28 hosted in the UAE, the Move to -15^oC coalition aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards and reduce energy consumption in the frozen food supply chain. The working hypothesis suggests that a three-degree change in temperature could make a significant environmental impact with no compromise on food quality and safety. By bringing together cross-industry partners, the coalition will explore the real-world implementation of this research through data sharing, suggested operational revisions, collaborating with members and stakeholders, as well as engaging with policymakers and regulators to educate and advocate.   

Perishables represent Emirates SkyCargo’s largest business unit by tonnage, with 900 to 1,000 tonnes of fresh food travelling around the world on Emirates’ flights every day. While frozen foods may represent a small percentage, the airline has built outstanding cool chain infrastructure, employed proprietary innovations and established strong working relationships across the supply chain that would provide key insight when reimagining the frozen food supply chain. 

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo said, “We have long been leaders in the movement of perishable food, connecting the global agricultural community with their customers across the globe and delivering freshness you can taste. The Move to -15^oC coalition is a future-looking concept, bringing together likeminded partners to evolve the industry in line with current advancements in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging and more. We are excited to offer our insight and expertise to help shape the next phase of food logistics while driving meaningful environmental impact.” 

Thomas Eskesen, Chairman of the Move to -15°C Coalition, says, "We are excited to welcome Emirates to our Coalition. The airline industry plays a vital role in the global cold chain, and having a leading airline like Emirates on board represents a key step forward to us.

''Ambitious climate action across the complex frozen food supply chain – which includes food production, ports, shipping, road, rail and air freight, cold storage and retail – can only happen through cross-sector collaboration. By joining the Coalition, Emirates is demonstrating that change is possible through industries joining forces.”

The Move to -15°C coalition was established in 2023, following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic paper supported by global logistics firm, DP World, and delivered by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University, among others. 

Emirates is focused on sustainable and environmental initiatives that drive impact, both in its own operations and across the industry. Recognizing that no one entity can achieve far-reaching results alone, a key part of the airline’s strategy is to find solutions to the biggest challenges in partnership with wider industry. In addition to the Move to -15^oC coalition, Emirates is also an industrial partner of Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), marking the first disbursement from the airline’s USD$ 200 million Sustainability Fund, dedicated to research and development projects focussed on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. Emirates also joined The Solent Cluster in the UK, a cross-sector collaboration aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions and producing low-carbon fuels.

Dubai, UAE, 21 October 2024 – Emirates has placed a firm order for 5 more Boeing 777 freighters to be delivered from 2025/2026.

Together with its previous orders, Emirates now has 14 Boeing 777Fs pending delivery from Boeing from now until end 2026.

In addition, Emirates has signed a multi-year lease extension with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for 4 Boeing 777Fs in its existing fleet. Based on these investments, by December 2026, Emirates SkyCargo expects to operate a fleet of 21 production-built Boeing 777 freighters, significantly expanding its current fleet of 11 units.

Emirates also remains invested in converting 10 passenger Boeing 777-3000ERs into freighters for further capacity and fleet growth.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: “We’re investing in new freighter aircraft to meet surging demand and provide our customers around the world with even more flexibility, connectivity, and options to leverage market opportunity.

“Demand for Emirates’ air cargo services has been booming. This reflects Dubai’s growing prominence as a preferred and trusted global logistics hub, and also the success of Emirates SkyCargo’s bespoke solutions that address the needs of shippers in different industry sectors.”

“Emirates continues to set the direction for our industry and we deeply appreciate the trust they have placed in the Boeing widebody family to serve as the backbone of their global fleet,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are proud to support Emirates SkyCargo’s growth as it relies on the performance and versatility of our 777 Freighter to further connect the world.”

Even as it inducts new freighter aircraft into its operations, Emirates’ cargo division will continue to harness the airline’s all wide-body passenger fleet to facilitate the fast, reliable and efficient movement of goods worldwide, offering customers more flexibility with a fleet mix comprised of 777s, 777-Fs, 747Fs, A350s, and A380s.

The Dubai government’s plans to expand Al Maktoum International airport (DWC) is set to create the world's largest hub in terms of capacity. DWC will ultimately be able to process 12 million tonnes of cargo annually, supporting the growth of the nearby Logistics District which is planned as an international base for global cargo and shipping companies, and part of Dubai’s masterplan to become the pre-eminent multi-modal cargo hub for air, sea and land connections.

As part of its vision for the next era of its growth, Emirates plans to make a decision by the end of this calendar year on its future freighter fleet for 2028/29 and beyond, with the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350-1000F as contenders.

Dubai, UAE, 16 July 2024 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has announced a firm order for an additional five Boeing 777 freighters, with immediate delivery between 2025 and 2026. The US$ 1billion order will take the airline’s total order book to 315 wide-body aircraft.

Emirates SkyCargo performance throughout Q1 of its current 2024-25 financial year has been exceptional, with consistently high load factors and tonnages surpassing 2019 figures. Once the new aircraft enter in service, available main deck cargo capacity will increase by 30%, allowing the airline to deploy much-needed space into key markets, and better serve global customers.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: “Demand for our world-class product and services is growing exponentially, further amplified by Dubai’s Economic Agenda which aims to double foreign trade and reinforce the city’s position as a global trading hub. This investment in additional Boeing 777 capacity enables us to cater to customer demand and marks a step forward on our long-term strategic growth plan.

The next phase of our strategy will include a full assessment for our future freighter fleet reviewing all aircraft options to ensure we are best equipped to respond to the evolving demands of the market and reaffirming our confidence in the role of airfreight and, more specifically, Emirates SkyCargo, in global trade.”

"We are honored that Emirates SkyCargo, renowned for operational excellence and innovation, has once again selected the Boeing 777 Freighter to extend the reach of its global network,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We deeply value Emirates’ trust in the Boeing widebody family and are committed to supporting their long-term strategic growth plan.”

With the staggered delivery of its new aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo will retire older freighters, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to operating one of the youngest and most efficient fleets in the sky.

In addition to the 10 Boeing 777Fs on order, the airline’s cargo capabilities will be bolstered by the 10 777-300ERs currently being converted into freighters, taking Emirates’ freighter fleet to 17 aircraft by the end of 2025. Harnessing the Emirates passenger fleet, the cargo division will continue to facilitate the fast, reliable and efficient movement of goods worldwide, offering customers more flexibility with a fleet mix comprised of 777s, 777-Fs, 747Fs, A350s, and A380s.