Emirates SkyCargo Voted Cargo Airline of the Year

DUBAI, UAE, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Emirates SkyCargo, the Dubai-based air freight division of Emirates, has been voted Cargo Airline of the Year and - for the 24th consecutive year - it was also named Best Middle East Cargo Airline.

The carrier, which was also named Best African Cargo Airline, received the accolades at the prestigious Cargo Airline of the Year 2012 awards held at London's Lancaster Hotel.

Ram Menen, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, attended the awards ceremony and later said: "These awards are voted for by our industry and their recognition of the continued success of Emirates SkyCargo is a great honour."

Emirates SkyCargo received the awards at a time of continuing growth. A fourth Boeing 777F joined its fleet earlier in 2012, taking its dedicated fleet to eight aircraft, with a further nine Boeing 777Fs on order.

Since January 2012, Emirates has introduced services to eight new destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Dallas, Lusaka, Harare, Liege and Seattle. It will also launch flights to Ho Chi Minh City in June, Lisbon and Barcelona in July, and Washington DC in September.

Emirates SkyCargo currently serves a route network of over 120 destinations from its Dubai hub, spanning six continents across the globe.

The Cargo Airline of the Year 2012 awards are organised by trade magazine Air Cargo News and attract votes from freight forwarders around the world. The awards are the only event where the British International Freight Association audits and approves the votes cast.

About Emirates SkyCargo

Emirates SkyCargo's investment in highly-qualified staff, the very latest information technology, the most efficient aircraft and the finest ground handling facilities, has made it a significant force in the global air cargo industry. It is well-equipped to handle a variety of cargo types, including priority cargo, valuable transportations and dangerous goods air cargo.

In the 2010-11 financial year, Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.8 million tonnes of cargo across its network, contributing 17.4 per cent - US$ 2.4 billion - of the airline's total transport revenue. Based out of Dubai International Airport, its $327million 43,600 square metre Cargo Mega Terminal is designed to handle 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Emirates' 171-strong fleet, including eight freighters (four Boeing 777Fs, two 747-400Fs and two 747-400ERFs), is one of the youngest in the skies.  Emirates SkyCargo serves a global route network that spans 123 points in 73 countries, including 12 cargo-only destinations, while more than 50 of the locations Emirates SkyCargo serves are e-freight compliant.

For further information on Emirates SkyCargo can be found at http://www.skycargo.com

PR Contact:
Scott Melrose
Emirates Corporate Communications
5th Floor
New EGHQ
Opposite DXB Airport
P O Box 686
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971-4-708-3976
http://www.emirates.com

SOURCE Emirates SkyCargo