Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter fleet has started operating from its new cargo terminal at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport.
The official start of operations was marked by the very early morning arrival of an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 Freighter from London Heathrow, carrying a full load of more than 100 tonnes of cargo.
Construction of phase one of the cargo terminal and supporting facilities began in July last year, and with its completion operations are now in full swing with 250 staff on site.
The newly opened terminal is equipped with start-of-the-art technology and will be able to handle 700 000 tonnes of cargo annually and have 500 staff when phase two, scheduled to be completed by September this year, comes into operation.
The terminal has the potential for further expansion to reach 1 million tonnes.
Emirates currently has a fleet of 12 freighters, 10 Boeing 777 Fs and two Boeing 747-400 ERFs, which operate to more than 50 destinations around the world. Cargo arriving on freighters will be transported by dedicated trucking services between DWC and Dubai International Airport along the Emirates Road (E-611) which will be the main corridor for connecting cargo between freighters and the passenger fleet. The current trucking fleet numbers 47, which will be increased relative to future growth requirements.
