Emirates SkyCargo Expands Indian Subcontinent Operations

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, is expanding its operations in the Indian subcontinent following the recent launch of Emirates services to Sialkot, the airline’s fifth route in Pakistan.

Supporting the thriving trade between the Indian subcontinent and the rest of the world, Emirates SkyCargo now offers a weekly capacity into and out of the region of 10,900 tonnes.

“With the new service to Sialkot, which is a major manufacturing hub in Pakistan, we are creating a new lane that will give local businesses access to trade opportunities across Emirates SkyCargo global network of more than 130 destinations, particularly in Europe, United States, Australia and the Middle East,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

With the addition of Sialkot, Emirates will operate 63 flights a week between Dubai and Pakistan offering 1,400 tonnes of cargo to Pakistan, giving a 5% boost to cargo capacity.

The Dubai-Sialkot service is operated four times a week by an Airbus A330-200, providing a total weekly cargo capacity of up to 68 tonnes per direction, giving a boost to trade opportunities.

Key Sialkot exports include sports goods and clothing, gloves, surgical instruments, cutlery, ceramics and leather garments, and will be transported to the UAE and throughout Europe, US, Australia and Middle East.

In the other direction, raw materials for manufacturing these products will be the leading commodities imported from Europe and the Middle East.

Pakistan was the first country on Emirates route network when it launched services to Karachi in 1985. From 2007 until 2012, Emirates carried 108,000 tonnes of cargo on its belly-hold flights to its four gateways in Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.

Current bilateral trade between the UAE and Pakistan stands at US$7.6 billion, indicating the remarkable potential of the new trade route. Today, 27 Emirati companies operate in Pakistan in an array of sectors including telecommunications, banking and aviation. The volume of business through joint ventures stands at US$21 billion.

Emirates flight EK620 departs Dubai at 04:15 and arrives in Sialkot at 08:20 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The return flight EK621 leaves Sialkot at 09:45, arriving in Dubai at 12:35.