-          Emirates SkyCargo resumed freighter services to Guangzhou and Shanghai in early February, while continuing to offer cargo capacity to Beijing on passenger flights

-          In response to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the air cargo carrier has increased capacity in Chinese mainland to help Chinese enterprises transport supplies to destinations around the world

-          Cargo flights will also be operated by Boeing 777 passenger aircraft to 38 global destinations

Beijing, China, 9 April 2020 - Emirates SkyCargo has stepped up its commitment to Chinese mainland in facilitating the movement of goods for supporting China and global fight against COVID-19.  The air cargo carrier offers 18 weekly freighter services to and from the country, including Beijing once weekly, Shanghai 12 weekly and Guangzhou 5 weekly. Belly-hold capacity of Boeing 777 passenger aircraft will also be used to increase cargo capacity and facilitate the flow of essential goods between Dubai and 38 destinations across the world.

Connect China to the World

Early February, Emirates SkyCargo resumed scheduled freighter services between Dubai and Guangzhou/Shanghai, while continuing to offer cargo capacity to Beijing on passenger flights.

Effective from April 1, 2020, Emirates SkyCargo has further increased it services to Chinese mainland in helping Chinese enterprises transport supplies to destinations around the world. Operated by Boeing 777 freighters, the air cargo carrier offers once weekly to Beijing, 12 weekly to Shanghai and five weekly to Guangzhou, with a cargo capacity of up to 100 tonnes per flight.  Emirates SkyCargo also temporarily increased flights, when it is allowed, to meet the market demand in China.

Connect global markets

With the outbreak of COVID-19 across the world, the global demand for medical supplies has increased. During the last two weeks of March, the air cargo carrier has operated more than 30 weekly freighter flights from Hong Kong. In addition, Emirates SkyCargo also broke the record by operating 18 freighter flights to the Chinese mainland during the same week.

Michael Qu, Cargo Manager of Emirates China, said:” Emirates SkyCargo is a customer-focused carrier and we take our commitment to facilitating global trade and the movement of essential commodities for communities very seriously. By operating our freighter fleet at full capacity with a combination of scheduled and ad- hoc operations, we are making sure that we can maintain the flow of goods to our destinations. In February, we transported trade goods, as well as medicines and medical supplies to China. Since March, there has been a rapid increase in medical supplies being transported from China to countries worldwide. On Monday 30 March 2020, an Emirates SkyCargo flight carrying close to 500,000 Covid-19 testing kits landed at Sao Paulo airport in Brazil. The kits were moved from Guangzhou via Dubai by the air cargo carrier. During the same week, Emirates also executed two special charters carrying almost 200 tonnes of medical from Hong Kong to Sydney, while another flight transported pharmaceutical supplies to Karachi. We’re honored to facilitate flow of medical supplies across the world.”

In addition, the cargo flights operated on Emirates’ Boeing 777 passenger aircraft are scheduled to operate to 38 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia, offering up to 50 tonnes of lower deck cargo capacity per flight.

Emirates’ fleet of 11 freighter aircraft flew a number of ad hoc and charter flights in addition to scheduled operations to match the increased demand for air transportation of cargo. During the eight week period between mid-January and mid-March, Emirates’ freighter aircraft transported more than 50,000 tonnes of cargo including medical and food supplies.

About Emirates

Emirates connects people and places around the globe, inspiring travel and facilitating trade across 157 destinations in 83 countries and territories. On-board its modern and efficient fleet of 270 aircraft, Emirates offers award-winning comfort and service, delivered by friendly cabin crew representing over 130 nationalities. Today, Emirates operates the world’s largest and one of the youngest fleets of the iconic A380 and popular Boeing 777s.

Emirates was the first airline to establish non-stop connectivity between the Middle East and mainland China, launching freighter operations to Shanghai in 2002, followed by passenger services to the city in 2004, Beijing in 2006, Guangzhou in 2008. Today, Emirates operates 35 flights per week to China – twice daily A380 services to Beijing and Shanghai, daily A380 services to Guangzhou. In addition to its passenger services, Emirates operates seven weekly cargo services to Shanghai and three weekly cargo services to Guangzhou.