“Four more” are the latest exciting buzzwords at Emirates SkyCargo these days, as it gears itself to launch belly-hold services to new cities on its global network. Next year, the multiple award-winning cargo division of the airline will launch services to the Seychelles, Seoul, Hamburg and Geneva, expanding its network to 81 cities in 56 countries.

Emirates flies three times weekly to Malta from Dubai, every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. It is the only carrier consistently operating wide-bodied aircraft, A330-200, on scheduled services into Malta. Apart from 237 passengers, this aircraft can transport up to 13,000 kgs of cargo between Malta and Dubai.

Emirates SkyCargo is represented in Malta by general sales agent, Cassar & Cooper Ltd, and enquiries can be made at Air Cargo House, Triq Ganni Vassallo, Luqa, on telephone number 2166-0102, or at [email protected]

Seychelles on the seashore

Starting on Sunday, Emirates SkyCargo will serve the Seychelles three times a week from Dubai, with 45 tonnes of total belly-hold capacity in each direction in the airline’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft. By the middle of the year the frequency will increase to five and payloads to 75 tonnes per week.

Emirates SkyCargo has already received a resounding response from Seychellois importers for

perishables such as fresh fruit and vegetables that cater to the growing tourist industry.

Flight EK705 will depart Dubai International Airport every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.10am to arrive in the Seychelles at 6.45am. The return flight EK 706 leaves at 8am on the same day to arrive in Dubai at 12.30pm.

Emirates’ vice-president cargo commercial operations Peter Sedgley said: “The Seychelles is an exciting new destination for Emirates SkyCargo. Our direct flights and extensive network in Europe and Asia will expand this tourism-intensive economy’s import options. Exporters in the Seychelles can look forward to a premium service, fast connections and new markets in the Middle East and beyond.”

Seoul – commercial soul of Korea

Emirates will start operating daily flights to high-tech Incheon Inter-national Airport in Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea, on 1 May. Flying daily non-stop from Dubai, Emirates’ A340-300 will transport payloads in excess of 90 tonnes to Seoul and back every week.

Emirates is ideally placed to accelerate Seoul’s export-oriented economy with new direct routes and priority services. Electronics such as mobile phones, televisions and computers, and engineering products feature predominantly in the city’s export portfolio, whereas raw materials, spare parts, electrical goods and machinery are a large part of its imports.

Flight EK306 will depart Dubai daily at 9.20am, arriving in Seoul at 10.50pm. The return flight EK307 departs the next morning at 7.50am and arrives in Dubai at 12.45pm.

Hamburg – Germany’s

maritime metropolis

Emirates’ daily services to Hamburg, its fourth German gateway, will start on 30 October. Hamburg, the country’s second largest city and long-time centre for maritime commerce, marks the airline’s fourth gateway into Germany, presently served by a daily to Düsseldorf and double-dailies to Frankfurt and Munich.

Emirates’ A330-200 services will cater to the growing demand from shippers looking for speedy air links between the huge port of Hamburg and Dubai, the Middle East’s major trading hub, strengthening the inter-modal supply lines and servicing customers time-definite schedules better.

Flight EK059 will depart from Dubai at 8.55am and arrive at Hamburg at 12.55pm; EK060 will return on the same day at 3.35pm to reach Dubai at 12.45am.

Geneva – the Swiss Biz Centre

Geneva, after Zurich, will become the second Swiss city on Emirates’ network, starting 1 December. Emirates SkyCargo expects to import electronic components, perishables such as seafood, fruit and vegetables, and garments into Geneva and export electronics, automobile parts and foodstuffs across its network.

Daily flight EK085, an A330-200 with a cargo payload of 13 tonnes, will depart Dubai at 8.55am and arrive in Geneva at 12.55pm. EK086 will return the same day at 2.40pm, arriving at Dubai at 11.50pm.

Mr Sedgley said: “Emirates SkyCargo’s core competency is creating fast and efficient distribution networks.

“Our services will catalyse trade and commerce between the new and existing cities on our vast global network.”