Emirates SkyCargo adds another Boeing 777-200LRF freighter

Emirates SkyCargo took delivery of a new Boeing 777-200LRF freighter at the weekend, bringing its all-cargo fleet to a total of 11 aircraft.

On Saturday May 28, the aircraft (A6-EFT) landed in Dubai World Central (DWC) from Boeing’s Paine Field site in Seattle with a full load consisting of electronics, consumer goods and general cargo.

The aircraft is part of a $1bn order for new freighters announced in November last year.

The deal included two new 777Fs, with the second also due to arrive this year, and the conversion of four of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into freighters between 2023 and 2024.

Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Our newest freighter adds welcome capacity to our operations, which have been running at full steam throughout the pandemic to serve our customers and keep global supply chains moving.

“We are scheduled to receive delivery of a second 777F in June. And in 2023 we will begin a programme to convert four passenger 777 aircraft into freighters and all of the converted aircraft will be re-delivered by end 2024.”

“These investments reflect our commitment to serving our customers with the best possible assets, as well as to enabling the movement of vital goods and trade flows through Dubai.”

The expansion of its fleet comes as the airline reported a record year for cargo revenues in the 2021/2022 financial year.

For the 12 months ending March 31, Emirates SkyCargo saw its revenues increase by 26.6% year on year to AED21.6bn.

Cargo volumes also improved year on year, increasing by 14.2% to 2.1m tonnes. However, this lags behind the 2.7m tonnes the airline carried in 2018/2019.

Emirates SkyCargo currently operates scheduled freighter services to 11 destinations. It also offers shippers cargo belly-hold space in Emirates’ passenger fleet to more than 130 destinations.

Damian Brett  www.aircargonews.net & Emirates SkyCargo