Air Canada and Emirates team up on air cargo

Emirates SkyCargo and Air Canada Cargo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will examine how they can develop capacity partnerships.

The partnership will see the two airlines work on a number of initiatives, including expanding cargo interline options and block space agreements, pending any required regulatory approvals.

“These enhancements aim to offer freight customers of both airlines access to more capacity on a larger combined global network,” the partners said.

“SkyCargo will have access to over 60 cities in Canada and more than 150 cities across five continents through Air Canada Cargo, thanks to a fleet of Boeing 767 freighters and including in the belly-hold capacity of Air Canada’s scheduled passenger flights,” the partners said.

“In return, Air Canada Cargo will have access to Emirates SkyCargo’s high-frequency distribution network through the belly-hold of Emirates scheduled passenger flights to over 140 global destinations, as well as the additional capacity offered by 11 freighters currently in the Emirates fleet.”

The partnership on cargo follows an agreement signed by the two carriers’ passenger businesses last year.

The MoU was signed by Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo and Matthieu Casey, managing director commercial, Air Canada Cargo.

Sultan said: “Cooperating with Air Canada Cargo will offer our clients added value through more rapid reach to new destinations in Canada via our Toronto and US gateways.”

Casey added: “This agreement enables both carriers to work more closely to optimise our respective freighter and belly capacity throughout each of our extensive and complementing global networks.

“Customers will benefit from these additional synergies by having access to an even greater array of options, destinations and streamlined handling when shipping globally,”

Since announcing their strategic partnership in 2022, Emirates and Air Canada have implemented a passenger codeshare agreement that spans 46 destinations across North America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, and have launched a loyalty programme partnership.

The Middle Eastern carrier also signed a partnership with United Cargo last year as it looks to expand its connections into North America.

Both Emirates SkyCargo and Air Canada Cargo have been investing in freighters over recent years.