Emirates SkyCargo today received a warm Catalonian welcome on the arrival of its inaugural flight to Barcelona. The new service marks a first for Emirates Airline’s operations on the Iberian Peninsula, a region enjoying substantial and growing trade ties with the Gulf Region and with Dubai in particular.
The launch will kick-start Barcelona’s only direct air freight connection with Dubai: an initiative intended to support growing trade between the two bustling commerce hubs. Twice a week, Emirates SkyCargo will operate a freighter service on the Airbus 310 Freighter, offering a payload capacity of 39 tonnes.
Trade between Spain and the Gulf has been increasing steadily over the last few decades, with notable growth being seen in recent years. The UAE, along with other GCC countries have access to the Spanish market under the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences, a trade pact offering a number of preferential benefits.
Imports from Spain to Dubai will include growing quantities of manufactured goods, foodstuffs and textiles and clothing, while exports to Spain from Dubai will include manufactured goods, some machinery and transport equipment, consumer goods and medical equipment. It is anticipated that the route will also sustain large quantities of transit freight from trading partners in the Far East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent.
“Barcelona, much like Dubai, is a thriving commerce capital and an active location for economic growth and trade. Despite recent economic slowdowns in Europe, Spain’s economy has remained strong and consistent, demonstrating growth over the last three years. We are confident the new route will meet increasing demands,” said Ram Menen, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.
Currently, Emirates SkyCargo’s Dubai hub offers the shortest acceptance, delivery and transit times of any major international airport as well as highly efficient tracking facilities. A major global centre for trade and intermodal interchange, transport facilities in Dubai have been purpose-developed to provide superior connections between road, sea and air.
The new link with Barcelona is also expected to profit from Emirates’ developed and extensive road feeder service within Spain as well as Europe.
Emirates SkyCargo’s Spain-based General Sales Agent, General Airline Services will continue to provide all handling and on-ground support for the new destination.
“We have been overwhelmed by the response for Emirates SkyCargo’s operations here in Barcelona,” commented Luis Martinez, Branch Manager of General Airline Services. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Emirates SkyCargo, and we are confident that our knowledge of both markets and the airline will bring the best benefits to our customers,” added Martinez.
Emirates SkyCargo’s expansion strategy will be one to watch during the next few years as the airline receives 8 Boeing 777 freighters and 10 Boeing 747-8 freighters, the first of which will be joining the fleet in 2007. The carrier has also signed an options agreement for an additional 10 747-8F’s. Over the next few years, Emirates will welcome more than 100 new aircraft to its fleet. The total value of aircraft now on its order books is over US $30 billion.
Gearing up for growth has also been evident across operations, particularly with SkyChain, the airline’s new end-to-end cargo management system, and with the opening of a new Cargo Mega Terminal: a facility with the throughput capacity to handle 1.2 million tones of cargo and scheduled to open in early 2007.
The Emirates SkyCargo route network covers 88 destinations in 59 countries. In addition to belly-hold space in Emirates' scheduled passenger services, Emirates SkyCargo's fleet of freighters serve 29 markets including five cargo-only destinations. For more information about Emirates SkyCargo's services and for a complete list of destinations served, visit www.skycargo.com
