Emirates SkyCargo announced significant growth and capacity expansion, wet-leasing two Boeing 747 freighters to enhance global logistics and meet surging demand.
Throughout 2024, the demand for Emirates SkyCargo’s specialized product offerings, comprehensive global network, and entirely widebody fleet has seen remarkable growth, showing no signs of deceleration.
To accommodate the surging global demand, the airline has wet-leased two additional Boeing 747 freighters, commencing in 2025, which translates to a 15 percent increase in vital main deck cargo capacity when compared to January 2024.
Future prospects
Badr Abbas, divisional senior vice president of Emirates SkyCargo, stated, “Throughout 2024, we made significant investments in new and leased freighter aircraft to address the evolving supply chain and air cargo demands around the world to ensure we had a stable supply of capacity to best serve our global customers. This remains a key priority for Emirates SkyCargo, as we set our sights on the next era of growth.”
“We anticipate that demand will continue to boom, reflecting Dubai’s prominence as a global logistics hub. Enhancing our cargo capabilities is essential to support Dubai’s Economic Agenda, enabling us to reach new destinations, bolster our current operations, and elevate our specialist product portfolio.”
The multi-year lease for the Boeing 747s was established with the Compass Group, one of Emirates SkyCargo’s most trusted and longstanding partners. This investment in additional Boeing 747F capacity allows the airline to quickly unlock new capacity to meet customer needs while discussions about further collaboration expansion take place.
Read more: Emirates resumes daily service to Australia’s Adelaide with Boeing 777-200LR
Strategic leasing and fleet growth
Emirates SkyCargo’s leasing strategy effectively complements its owned fleet, which is steadily increasing. In 2024, the airline welcomed two new Boeing 777Fs, which were promptly put into service, focusing on the rising demand for eCommerce shipments from Asian markets. This influx of aircraft also permitted Emirates SkyCargo to broaden its network of destinations served by freighters to 38, including the launch of a weekly freighter service to Copenhagen, Denmark.
The active operating fleet of Emirates SkyCargo now includes 10 Boeing 777Fs and six wet-leased Boeing 747s, bringing the total aircraft count to 16. The airline also has 13 Boeing 777Fs on order, with deliveries anticipated between 2025 and 2026. This substantial order book will underpin the airline’s next phase of growth as it evaluates various options for its future fleet, including the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350-1000F.
Enhancing global logistics
Moreover, to facilitate the swift, reliable, and efficient movement of goods, Emirates SkyCargo leverages its widebody fleet and the multi-frequency schedules of Emirates’ passenger operations. The recently increased passenger flights to key cities such as Madagascar via the Seychelles, Uganda, and Ethiopia, along with Johannesburg, South Africa, and Melbourne, Australia, before the end of the financial year, will further enhance the freight division’s ability to transport goods globally. Finally, the arrival of the first A350, which entered service this month, will significantly augment bellyhold capacity, providing an additional 12 tons on each flight.
Emirates SkyCargo’s $1 billion order for five Boeing 777Fs
In July 2024, Emirates SkyCargo announced its order for an additional five Boeing 777 freighters, with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2026. This significant order, valued at $1 billion, will elevate the airline’s total order book to 315 wide-body aircraft.
Emirates SkyCargo’s performance during the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year has been remarkable, showcasing consistently high load factors and tonnages that exceed 2019 levels. Once the new aircraft are in service, the available main deck cargo capacity will see a 30 percent increase, enabling the airline to allocate essential space to key markets and enhance service to global customers.
Retirement of older aircraft
As new aircraft are delivered in a staggered manner, Emirates SkyCargo will phase out older freighters, underscoring the airline’s dedication to maintaining one of the youngest and most efficient fleets in the industry. Alongside the 10 Boeing 777Fs on order, the airline’s cargo capabilities will be further strengthened by the conversion of 10 777-300ERs into freighters. This expansion will bring Emirates’ freighter fleet to 17 aircraft by the close of 2025.
By leveraging the Emirates passenger fleet, the cargo division will continue to ensure the swift, reliable, and efficient movement of goods across the globe. This strategy will provide customers with enhanced flexibility through a diverse fleet that includes 777s, 777-Fs, 747Fs, A350s, and A380s.
