Emirates SkyCargo Expands Airline Fleet

Emirates SkyCargo, one of the leaders of the global air transport industry, announced that it will add two new Boeing 777Fs to its fleet in 2022, and that the company will also convert four Boeing 2023-2024ER passenger aircraft into cargo aircraft between 777-300.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said in a statement: “The process we have been going through over the past two years has highlighted the importance of supply chain connectivity and making air transport capacity accessible to global communities and economies.”

“At Emirates, we play a key role in helping passengers and consumers around the world access essential products through our wide-body fleet, global flight network and advanced infrastructure headquartered in Dubai. Today we are pleased to announce that we have invested AED 3,6 billion (US$ 1 billion) to further expand our cargo aircraft capacity. This investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting the needs of our passengers and reflects our confidence that we will grow to become one of the largest air carriers in the world in the future.”

New Boeing 777-F airplanes

Emirates SkyCargo has signed an agreement with Boeing for two new Boeing 777-F aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered in April and June of 2022, respectively. Emirates SkyCargo is the launch brand of the Boeing 777-F and the aircraft has been at the center of Emirates SkyCargo's operations since 2009. The addition of two new aircraft will enable Emirates SkyCargo to strengthen its services to its passengers, while allowing greater agility and flexibility in its operations.

The Boeing 777 freighter has been a critical pillar of Emirates SkyCargo operations for years, operating scheduled and charter flights to destinations on six continents. The Boeing 777-F has also played an important role in the company's response to the pandemic, helping to deliver vital supplies worldwide. The aircraft's superior range and carrying capacities have enabled time- and temperature-sensitive shipments to be transported quickly and efficiently from the country of origin to the country of destination.

Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said in a statement: “We are proud that Emirates is putting its trust in the 777 Cargo Aircraft once again. “With the largest fleet of 777 passenger and cargo aircraft in the world, the success of Emirates is a testament to the 777's market-leading efficiency, advanced sustainability and outstanding range.”

Boeing 777-300ER conversion work

Emirates SkyCargo has signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the full conversion of four Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into cargo aircraft. The deal also provides the option for additional Boeing 777-300ER conversions at a later stage. The conversion program, which will begin in the first months of 2023 for the four aircraft, is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and the processes for each aircraft are expected to take an estimated five months.

The converted cargo aircraft will offer 777 additional pallet positions compared to the new production Boeing 10-F cargo aircraft and will enable the transport of lower density cargoes, including e-commerce products. The main deck, which Emirates SkyCargo can use on its global routes, will increase cargo capacity, with a particular focus on trade routes where volumetric cargo loads tend to be high. The payload of the converted aircraft is very close to that of new production Boeing 777-F cargo aircraft, and the twin-engine aircraft will be more efficient per ton transported than industry-standard cargo aircraft.

Boaz Levy, CEO and President of IAI, said in a statement: “At IAI, we are proud to partner with the brightest minds in the region to create solutions for global cargo aircraft demand.” “As the world leader in IAI's cargo conversion efforts, Aviation Group is currently converting the first B777-300ER aircraft with GECAS to provide the most suitable solution for the rise in e-commerce. Emirates' decision to choose IAI to convert its passenger aircraft to a cargo model is a testament to IAI's professional capabilities and well-established international reputation in the field.”

In addition to cargo aircraft, Emirates also offers cargo capacity on the underside of passenger aircraft. In response to high industry demand for the shipment of vital supplies such as PPE, medical consumables and food during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has announced the overall decline in global cargo capacity due to declining passenger flights and cargo-only flights on passenger cargo aircraft. New measures have been taken, including the removal of the seats in the Economy Class of Boeing 777-300ER type aircraft to make more room for cargo (mini cargo planes). Emirates SkyCargo has 16 mini cargo planes in its fleet.

Emirates SkyCargo has operated more than 2020 flights in passenger and mini-cargo aircraft in the year starting March 27.800, carrying over 100.000 tons of essential supplies, including medical supplies and food. With continued high demand for air freight capacity, Emirates SkyCargo continues to offer the option to carry cargo on passenger aircraft and/or mini cargo aircraft.