Emirates SkyCargo has announced the commencement of scheduled cargo flights from Colombo, following the successful operation of special flights in the second half of April to support Sri Lankan exporters’ efforts to keep their supply chains open.
The air cargo operator of Emirates said it will initially operate one cargo flight a week commencing Monday, 11th May, using a Boeing 777-300 passenger aircraft, offering Sri Lankan exporters access to markets in more than 65 countries in a network that is constantly expanding.
Operating as EK0654, the passenger freighter will arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 1855 hours every Monday, bringing in essential imports. Each flight can carry up to 50 tonnes of cargo on its return journey. Emirates SkyCargo’s products such as Emirates Fresh and Emirates Pharma help transport perishables, medicines and other temperature- and time-sensitive cargo around the world by deploying special facilities that keep these items in pristine condition throughout the journey.
“Keeping supply chains and revenue flows going is vital for exporters to retain customers and markets in these times of disruption and lockdown,” said Kapila Santhapriya, Emirates’ Cargo Manager Sri Lanka & Maldives. “Emirates SkyCargo has the scale, reach and expertise to do just that, and even more importantly, the commitment to do so. We look forward to ramping up our services to Colombo as markets around the world open and demand grows.”
In the second half of April this year, Emirates SkyCargo helped Sri Lankan exporters of perishables such as fish, fruit, and vegetables to export nearly 100 tonnes of produce to markets in Zurich, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Dubai, Karachi and Lahore with two special flights in passenger aircraft operating as freighters.
With close to 100 daily cargo flights operating to a destination network now spanning more than 65 cities across six continents, Emirates SkyCargo is leading the global cargo industry during these critical times in delivering essential supplies and commodities to people around the world. The air cargo operator is currently flying 11 Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, each with a capacity to transport about 100 tonnes of cargo per flight and around 60 of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft as dedicated cargo aircraft, with a 40-50 tonne belly hold cargo capacity per flight.
Emirates SkyCargo has even started loading cargo in the overhead bins and seats of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft in a bid to further optimise cargo operations and capacity. This move has been made in response to growing customer demand out of key markets.
Emirates commenced flights to Colombo, its fourth overseas destination, on 1st April 1986. Before its temporary suspension of passenger flights in response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates operated four flights a day to and from Colombo, connecting Sri Lanka to a global network of 159 destinations on six continents.
For more details of the current flights and network of Emirates SkyCargo, please visit www.skycargo.com/services-alerts/
