Emirates SkyCargo plans service expansion in India

Emirates SkyCargo plans to add three new destinations in India by June, an Indian business news daily has reported.

“We are looking forward to operating scheduled freighter flights to three additional cities in India,” Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice-president at the Dubai-based company, told The Hindu Business Line.

The three destinations were not disclosed.

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Emirates SkyCargo’s business in India has risen strongly after significant new investments in India’s manufacturing sector, especially in mobile phones, electronics and consumer goods, Sultan said. 

He said Emirates SkyCargo’s business with the country has also been boosted by the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) between India and the UAE. 

India is among the top five markets for Emirates SkyCargo’s business, accounting for around eight percent of its overall freight volume, the report said. The airline flew more than 1.8 million tonnes of cargo in 2023, registering more than seven percent year-on-year growth.

Sultan said continuing geopolitical tensions are also contributing to growth in its cargo volumes. 

“We launched a sea-air product two years ago. We are able to deliver shipments in 12 to 14 days, with cargoes being shipped to Dubai and then flown by us to Europe or the US,” he said.

In December 2023, Sultan said the long-term trends indicate that the industry was growing at 3 to 5 percent year on year, despite fluctuations in air freight. 

“Looking to the future, we are well-positioned to steadily scale up operations in 2024, continuing our strategic growth,” he said.

The UAE is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to India, accounting for 8 percent.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the Indian economy will pass the $4 trillion mark for the first time this year and predicts it will become the third largest economy in the world by 2030.