Emirates SkyCargo
Emirates SkyCargo is a cargo airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As of 2020, it is the largest cargo airline worldwide in terms of the total freight tonne-kilometres flown and the largest in terms of international freight tonne-kilometres flown.
Emirates SkyCargo is the air freight division of Emirates, which started operations in October 1985, the same year Emirates was formed. Since then it has been the main cargo division of Emirates, and the anchor cargo airline at Al Maktoum International Airport, its main hub. Emirates SkyCargo operates dedicated cargo flights to 26 destinations from Al Maktoum International Airport, and through the Emirates passenger network has access to additional 61 destinations. Whilst using bellyhold capacity in the Emirates' passenger fleet, it also operates freighter aircraft. Emirates SkyCargo is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which has over 40,000 employees, and is wholly owned by the Government of Dubai directly under the Investment Corporation of Dubai. The company slogan is Delivering the highest standards of product quality.
History
Early years
Emirates SkyCargo was established in October 1985, at the same time as Emirates was launched, operating as a separate entity from its parent company. In its first year, SkyCargo handled over 10,000 tonnes of freight. SkyCargo leased the entire freighter fleet from Emirates, as well as taking over management of the cargo holds in all of Emirates' passenger aircraft.The airline received its first award in 1989. Since then, Emirates SkyCargo has received more than 100 international awards – including Best Cargo Airline to the Middle East for 20 years in a row.
On October 3, 1993, Emirates SkyCargo signed an agreement with EC International to handle all cargo shipments from the United States to 24 countries serviced by Emirates – the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Europe and the Far East.
New routes were launched when both Emirates began growing. Amsterdam was launched in 1997, the same year EmiratesSkyCargo was experiencing growth, and accounting for 16% of The Emirates Groups revenue.
Development since the 2000s
In May 2003, the airline took delivery of a Boeing 747-400 freighter taking the freighter fleet to three Boeing 747s. Emirates SkyCargo was operating two Boeing 747-400s with capacity for 120 tonnes and a Boeing 747-200 with capacity for 110 tonnes.In September 2004, the airline launched freighter services to Johannesburg and Lahore. On 20 November 2005, Emirates announced orders for eight Boeing 777 Freighters, with the first aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2007, at the Dubai Airshow.
In 2005, Emirates SkyCargo and Korean Air Cargo signed an agreement to codeshare cargo capacity on two routes from India – Delhi and Mumbai.
In the financial year ending March 2006, SkyCargo announced revenues of over $1 billion and carried over one million tonnes of cargo. The freighter fleet included four freighters: one Boeing 747-400F and three A310-300Fs. In the same year, the airline also launched a freighter service to Barcelona using the Airbus 310 Freighter.
During the Farnborough Air Show in July 2006, Emirates signed a Heads of Agreement for ten Boeing 747-8F aircraft, to be powered by General Electric's GEnx jet engines, in a deal worth US$3.3 billion. In July 2008, EK sold these ten frames to Dubai Aerospace Enterprises and agreed to lease them back.
In 2008, Emirates SkyCargo moved its operations into its new Cargo Mega Terminal, built on a 43,600 square metre site, has increased the ground-handling capacity by 1.2 million tonnes per year. The new addition increases DXB's throughput capacity to 1.6 million tons a year.
In March 2009, SkyCargo took delivery of a new Boeing 777 long-range freighter, bringing its total fleet to eight aircraft.
In the financial year 2008-09, Emirates SkyCargo 1.4 million tonnes of freight, up 9.8 per cent over the previous year. The division produced revenues of AED6.7bn in 2007-8. Emirates SkyCargo generated 19 per cent of the Emirates Group's total revenues, which increased 9.9 per cent to AED44.2bn despite an 82 per cent fall in its net profits, to AED982m. The SkyCargo service alone employed over 1,000 people as of 2009.
During the financial year 2008-09, Emirates SkyCargo carried in 1,408,300 tonnes of cargo, an improvement of 9.8% compared to the previous year. Emirates SkyCargo accounts for 20% of Emirates’ transport revenue.
In November 2011, DAE cancelled five of the 747-8 freighters and converted them to 777 Freighters. In December 2012, DAE cancelled the remaining five 747-8F, with Emirates SkyCargo focusing its fleet on the 777F only.
In April 2013 SkyCargo was voted Air Cargo News Cargo Airline of the Year.
In July 2013, work started on a SkyCargo terminal. Once complete, SkyCargo will move their freighter operations from Dubai International Airport to the new facility at Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport. The facility is being built by Amana Contracting and Steel Buildings.
In May 2015, Emirates SkyCargo became the largest air freight carriers in the world to ban the transport of lion, tiger, rhino and elephant hunting trophies, even if they were obtained legally.
On 24 June 2020, Emirates has introduced additional cargo capacity by using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with seats removed from the economy class cabin.
On 30 June, 2020, Emirates SkyCargo marked 30 years of operations in Singapore.
Business figures
| Year ended | Cargo carried | Turnover | Expenditure | Net profit/loss |
| 31 March 1997 | 159.4 | 1,198.7 | 1,097.1 | 101.623 |
| 31 March 1998 | 200.1 | 4,089.1 | 3,826.7 | 262.413 |
| 31 March 1999 | 214.2 | 4,442.9 | 4,130.2 | 312.959 |
| 31 March 2000 | 269.9 | 5,113.8 | 4,812.9 | 300.900 |
| 31 March 2001 | 335.2 | 6,417.3 | 5,970.7 | 421.825 |
| 31 March 2002 | 400.6 | 7,274.6 | 6,783.7 | 468.231 |
| 31 March 2003 | 525.2 | 9,709.7 | 8,749.6 | 906.747 |
| 31 March 2004 | 659.8 | 13,286.3 | 11,602.1 | 1,573.511 |
| 31 March 2005 | 838.4 | 18,130.9 | 15,628.3 | 2,407.385 |
| 31 March 2006 | 1,018.5 | 23,050.9 | 20,489.6 | 2,474.97 |
| 31 March 2007 | 1,155.9 | 29,839.6 | 26,675.9 | 3,096.4 |
| 31 March 2008 | 1,282.1 | 40,196.6 | 35,121.7 | 5,020.4 |
| 31 March 2009 | 1,408.3 | 44,188.9 | 43,143.4 | 981.7 |
| 31 March 2010 | 1,898.5 | 45,188.9 | 44,487.5 | 1,132.7 |
| 31 March 2016 | 2,714.3 | 63,228.9 | 57,107.5 | 6,124.4 |
Destinations
As of June 2020, Emirates SkyCargo operates dedicated cargo flights to 26 destinations and additionally has access to cargo capacity on further 61 Emirates passenger routes.Fleet
Current Fleet
As of July 2020, the Emirates SkyCargo fleet consists of the following aircraft:| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Notes |
| Boeing 777F | 11 | -- | Leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise |
| Total | 11 | 0 |
Former Fleet
The airline previously operated the following aircraft:| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
| Airbus A310-300F | 3 | 2005 | 2009 | |
| Boeing 747-400F | 6 | 2001 | 2007 |