Emirates SkyCargo strengthens its fleet and charts the outlook for 2026

Dubai, January 5, 2017 – Emirates SkyCargo confirmed that it has laid solid foundations for the next phase of growth in 2025, with a clear and ambitious roadmap towards success in 2026.

Badr Abbas, Emirates Senior Vice President of Cargo, said: The year 2026 is expected to constitute a major turning point in the expansion of our fleet, with the expected delivery of up to 10 Boeing 777 freighter aircraft by December. This qualitative increase in capacity will provide greater opportunities to expand the network, improve operating schedules, enhance the flexibility of solutions, and provide greater added value across our global network.

At the beginning of the year, Emirates SkyCargo received its first new Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, followed by two additional aircraft during the following months, allowing the carrier to retire older aircraft and fulfill its commitment to operating one of the youngest cargo fleets in the world.

The fleet currently includes 11 Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, in addition to 5 Boeing 747 aircraft leased on an operational lease basis.

The first Emirates passenger aircraft has also entered the program of conversion to a cargo aircraft, in preparation for its full operation in 2026.

By the end of next year, Emirates SkyCargo aims to operate a fleet of about 21 cargo aircraft, which will add significant capacities to its current operations.

During 2025, Emirates SkyCargo launched new cargo flights to 8 new destinations: Copenhagen, Narita, Bangkok, Mumbai, Beirut, Conakry, Phnom Penh and Hanoi. It also enhanced its services to destinations with high cargo volumes such as Guangzhou, Shanghai and Johannesburg by adding new weekly frequency flights. The recently launched Hanoi service was also quickly enhanced to four flights per week, in order to meet demand.

By the end of the year, the carrier served 42 global destinations across six continents through cargo flights.

During the year, it also continued to strengthen its partnership network, which includes more than 180 air transport partners around the world, by signing new agreements to expand the scope of its international presence. In February, it concluded a partnership with Astral Airlines in Africa, followed by another partnership in April with Teleport in Southeast Asia, allowing seamless connectivity with major and secondary airports in two regions witnessing rapid growth in commercial opportunities.

The carrier has strengthened its existing strategic partnerships with international airlines, including Air Canada, United and Virgin Atlantic, to reach various parts of the world.

In parallel with the development of plans for its new facility at Al Maktoum International Airport, Emirates SkyCargo continued to invest in its existing operations, including modernizing its ground transportation fleet by taking delivery of 40 Euro 6 trucks from MAN, equipped with the latest low-emission technologies and driver-centric systems.

By the first quarter of 2026, the fleet will be reinforced with five hydrogen-powered trucks, in a pivotal step within the gradual shift towards vehicles powered by alternative fuels.

As part of exploring future shipping solutions, Emirates SkyCargo is cooperating with Load Autonomous to study and develop the feasibility of using vertical take-off and landing helicopters in deliveries for the first and last stages during the year 2026.

Digital bookings also continued to grow throughout the year, while manual transactions declined, as an increasing number of customers preferred smooth and efficient processes.

By December 2025, approximately 80% of Emirates Air Cargo shipments are booked digitally, driven mainly by the eSkyCargo platform, in addition to external digital marketplaces and direct integration via APIs with customers.

During the year 2025, Emirates Sky Cargo maintained its position as the preferred carrier for various types of cargo, starting with transporting more than 14,600 pets, all the way to transporting the first prototype of the Koenigsegg supercar to the thousand-mile race in the United Arab Emirates.

The year witnessed the official launch of “Emirates Express Shipping Services”, and the service expanded to include Australia and Germany, with a road map for expansion in the world’s largest economies during the year 2026.

To date, more than 50,000 parcels have been delivered, with an average delivery time of 3 days across the network, and just one day between the UK and the UAE.

Emirates SkyCargo recorded a 100% growth in single-engine transport compared to the same period last year, with demand continuing to grow, which the carrier will be more prepared to meet with the entry of new aircraft into its fleet in the future.

The carrier transported the Arab satellite 813 from the city of Al Ain to Shanghai, in a mission that reflected the level of precision, professionalism and reliability that characterize the aviation and engineering solutions of Emirates SkyCargo.

Fresh solutions, dedicated to transporting food, flowers and perishable items, recorded a growth of 10% during 2025, with an additional 25,700 tons transported compared to 2024.

Freight volumes in Vital solutions for sensitive pharmaceutical shipments also increased by 54%, and Emirates SkyCargo continues to invest in its infrastructure, technology and operations, strengthening its position as the undisputed global leader in the life sciences and healthcare sector, with about 2,000 tons of medicines transported weekly.

With the significant increase in the manufacturing of smartphones and personal electronic devices in Vietnam and India, Secure Solutions recorded a growth of 30%.

In 2026, the carrier will build on this solid foundation to implement its long-term strategy, which includes doubling its current capacity, adding 20 new shipping destinations to its network, and contributing to shaping the future of the industry through smart solutions and advanced digital services that put the customer at the heart of the experience.

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