Emirates voted cargo airline of the year

Emirates SkyCargo has been voted Cargo Airline of the Year and, for the 24th consecutive year, was also named Best Middle East Cargo Airline.

The carrier – which was also named Best African Cargo Airline - received the accolades at the prestigious Cargo Airline of the Year 2012 awards held at London’s Lancaster Hotel.

“These awards are voted for by our industry and their recognition of the continued success of Emirates SkyCargo is a great honour,” said Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, who was present at the event.

Emirates SkyCargo receives the awards at a time of continuing growth. A fourth Boeing 777F joined its fleet earlier this year, taking its dedicated fleet to eight aircraft, with a further nine Boeing 777Fs on order.

Since January, Emirates has introduced services to eight new destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Dallas, Lusaka, Harare, Liege and Seattle. It will also launch flights to Ho Chi Minh City in June, Lisbon and Barcelona in July, and Washington DC in September.

Emirates SkyCargo currently serves a route network of over 120 destinations from its Dubai hub, spanning six continents across the globe.

The Cargo Airline of the Year 2012 awards are organised by trade magazine Air Cargo News and attract votes from freight forwarders around the world. The awards are the only event where the British International Freight Association audits and approves the votes cast.

Emirates SkyCargo’s investment in highly-qualified staff, the very latest information technology, the most efficient aircraft and the finest ground handling facilities, has made it a significant force in the global air cargo industry.

In the 2010-11 financial year, Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.8 million tonnes of cargo across its network, contributing 17.4 per cent - US$ 2.4 billion - of the airline’s total transport revenue. Based out of Dubai International Airport, its $327million 43,600 square metre Cargo Mega Terminal is designed to handle 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Emirates’ 171-strong fleet – including eight freighters (four Boeing 777Fs, two 747-400Fs and two 747-400ERFs) - is one of the youngest in the skies.  Emirates SkyCargo serves a global route network that spans 123 points in 73 countries, including 12 cargo-only destinations, while more than 50 of the locations Emirates SkyCargo serves are e-freight compliant.