Emirates SkyCargo recently expanded its freighter network in North America by adding Mexico City and Atlanta to its flight schedule.
The once-a-week service to Mexico City starts in Dubai with a stop en route to Frankfurt, while on the way back the flight makes a scheduled stop in Houston and Copenhagen before heading back to Dubai. The freighter service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from Dubai, which is also a weekly service, has a scheduled stop in Frankfurt and on the return leg stops at Copenhagen.
Emirates uses it Boeing 777 freighter on both routes. It is capable of carrying 103 tonnes of cargo.
“The recent introduction of freighter services to Mexico City and Atlanta is part of Emirates SkyCargo’s continued expansion of our route network to offer customers new trade and business opportunities across the world,” says Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, cargo. “Both cities are major cargo destinations, with Mexico City being one of the largest manufacturing hubs in Latin America, while Atlanta ranks tenth among North American airports in terms of cargo volume.”
Imports into Mexico City include general cargo, pharmaceuticals, textiles, apparel, machinery and electronic parts, with its exports being mainly general cargo, pharmaceuticals, automotive and ship parts. Goods moving into Atlanta are mainly general cargo, textiles, apparel, footwear and leather goods, while its exports across the Emirates network include general cargo, construction equipment, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment and products.
Emirates SkyCargo has a fleet of 12 freighters, 10 Boeing 777 Fs and two Boeing 747-400 ERFs. The fleet began operating from its new cargo terminal at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport on May 1.
Qatar’s new US$17 billion (12.4 billion euro) Hamad International Airport (HIA) ramped up its cargo service in late May as it moved toward a much-delayed opening.
Cargolux and Etihad Airways moved their cargo operations from Doha International Airport (DIA) to HIA on May 20 and May 18, respectively.
Located in the midfield area, HIA’s cargo terminal will be capable of simultaneously handling 5,700 shipments and up to 1.4 million tonnes of cargo annually. Upon completion of the second terminal, capacity for processing will increase to 2.5 million tonnes of cargo, making it almost the largest cargo terminal in the world. The two-floor cargo facility incorporates warehouse spaces, automated systems/retrieval systems mezzanine, offices and shops. The split-level facility covers 55,000 square meters (592,015 square feet), boasts 11 wide-body aircraft standing bays, 42 loading docks and 31 landside truck-loading facilities. The facility, which incorporates advanced scanning technology, is being touted as one of the most sophisticated cargo terminals in the industry.
The airport and its cargo operations have been phased in over the past several months. A Qatar Airways Cargo shipment for Qatar Petroleum was the first shipment received at the new cargo facility last December. The facility has 75 percent more cargo capacity than DIA.
More than half of the 2,200 hectare airport site was built on land reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf.
Qatar Airways recently announced that its second A380 aircraft will begin operations from Hamad International to Paris beginning July 3. The carrier’s first A380 is set to begin operations to London-Heathrow effective June 17. Qatar Airways has a total of 13 A380 aircraft on order.