Emirates SkyCargo launches Dubai-U.K. routes

Tomorrow, Dubai-based Emirates SkyCargo launches daily services to London Stansted Airport (STN) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) on 777-300ER aircraft, opening up 500 tonnes of capacity (inbound plus outbound) per week between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

The carrier cites strong growth in demand for the transportation of pharma products between the two regions as a major factor in its route expansion. As far as imports into the U.K., Emirates says produce from South Asia and East Africa are in demand, as well as raw materials for production in the engineering and fashion industries. Last year, the carrier says it carried 150,000 tonnes of cargo to the region.

Earlier this year, the airline’s cargo arm premiered a cool-chain focused “pharma corridor,” in accordance with IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators for Pharmaceuticals (CEIV-Pharma) guidelines – establishing links between its major destinations that guarantee clients’ perishable products are kept within strict temperature parameters.

Flight EK023 to Edinburgh will depart Dubai daily at 09:55 and arrive at 14:50. The return flight EK024 will depart Edinburgh at 20:15 and arrive in Dubai at 06:40 the following day.