Emirates' cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, is increasing the facilitation of its cool chain capacity to handle perishables items this summer. One of the popular perishable items is flowers used as floral arrangements during this busy season of weddings and outdoor events.
Hike in floral demand
In May this year, Emirates SkyCargo transported 3,590 tonnes of time and temperature-sensitive fresh-cut flowers across its vast route network. This is a 20% rise from the flowers transported during the same period of 2022.
The two top exporters of flowers are Ecuador in South America and Kenya in Africa. While Emirates operates passenger flights to Nairobi (NBO) on a twice-daily frequency, Emirates SkyCargo also serves Quito in Ecuador, using its dedicated fleet of Boeing 777F aircraft for cargo transportation. Furthermore, in recent years, Ecuador has experienced a flower trade boom and increased its exports with Emirates SkyCargo by 21% in May of this year compared to 2022.
Photo: Olaf Schulz | Shutterstock
The Senior Vice President – Product and Innovation of Emirates SkyCargo, Dennis Lister, commented,
"We are seeing an increased demand for fresh flowers as the wedding season in the Northern Hemisphere reaches its peak, and a corresponding spike in demand for logistics capabilities to protect perishables. Leveraging our industry-leading temperature-controlled technology, facilities, equipment and expert personnel, Emirates Fresh continues to offer our global customers reliable freshness, whether it's beautiful blooms for that special day or fresh produce for the harder barbeque. With 500 to 600 tonnes of perishables transported on Emirates SKyCargo flights every day, we are proud to be the partner of choice that connects the global agriculture community with heir customers all over the world."
Emirates' cool-chain facility
The dedicated cool-chain facility has been developed to handle fresh produce during the temperature rise of summer and maintain its high quality for consumers worldwide, with an additional focus on maintaining fast connection times and safe transfers.
Photo: Emirates SkyCargo
It is located in Emirates SkyCargo's dual airport hub in Dubai (Dubai International Airport – DXB and Dubai World Central – DWC), the world's largest and most technologically advanced cargo-handling facility. It has over 15,000 square meters of dedicated storage for temperature-sensitive goods, and handles over 8,000 shipments daily while offering a three-hour air-to-air transfer service for time-sensitive shipments.
Increasing capacity
The airline is already working on increasing its cargo capacity to cater to the existing and future demand. Emirates SkyCargo is set to double its capacity within the next decade. In preparation, the airline ordered five new 777 freighters set to be delivered in 2024 and 2025 and leased two new Boeing 747Fs for an immediate capacity boost.
Apart from dedicated freight aircraft, cargo is also transported using Emirates' fleet of all widebody aircraft. By mid-2030, the airline is set to operate over 300 aircraft consisting of Airbus A350-900s, Airbus A380-800s, and Boeing 777s, which can offer greater flexibility in terms of capacity and capability.
Photo: Emirates SkyCargo
Apart from its own operations, Emirates SkyCargo has also signed deals with Air Canada Cargo and United Cargo, gaining access to over 60 Canadian cities and over 200 cities in the US. Moreover, on a global scale, Emirates will have access to more than 150 Air Canada Cargo destinations and over 300 destinations across United Cargo's route network.
