Emirates SkyCargo’s weekly freighter service from Basel to Dubai will start Sept. 21.
The new freighter flight will supplement the existing belly-hold cargo capacity in the Swiss market provided on Emirates’ double-daily passenger services to Zurich as well as on the daily Geneva flights.
Emirates SkyCargo offers more than 380 tonnes of capacity each week on its routes into Switzerland. Basel, the center of the Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical industry, will become the 40th European destination in the Emirates SkyCargo network.
“Europe is key growth region for Emirates SkyCargo and the new scheduled freighter service will create more trade opportunities for importers and exporters across the local markets and across our worldwide network,” said Hiran Perera, Emirates senior vice president cargo planning and freighters. “We are offering advanced Cool Chain and Priority products for goods under temperature requirement, oversize cargo and highly secured protect solutions for any valuable or vulnerable items. The economic region of Basel has a strong pharmaceutical and chemical industry and Emirates is offering seamless trade connections and an efficient hub with multiple flights for time- and temperature-sensitive freight.”
Emirates SkyCargo will use a Boeing 777 freighter on the Basel-Dubai route, which is capable of carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, and with its main-deck cargo door being one of the widest of any aircraft, enabling it to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments. Popular commodities and goods into and from the region are expected to be pharmaceuticals, chemicals, spare parts and medical devices.
“We are delighted about Emirates’ decision to operate out of our airport,” Juerg Raemi, director of EuroAirport, said. “This confirms the attractiveness of our unique geographical position on the borders of France, Switzerland and Germany, and near to Basel, home of many world-renowned pharmaceutical companies. In particular, the decision emphasizes the importance of our new Cargo Terminal, due to open at the beginning of 2015, which offers state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled infrastructure perfectly in line with the needs of local industry and logistics companies as well as optimal freight processing.”