Emirates SkyCargo 2021: Transports 600mn Covid vaccine doses

Emirates SkyCargo signed up with Dubai-based entities - DP World, International Humanitarian City and Dubai Airports - to form the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance to expedite global vaccine distribution through Dubai in January 2021.

Emirates SkyCargo also signed an MoU with UNICEF in February 2021 to prioritise delivery of Covid-19 vaccines and related supplies, an official statement said today.

By December 2021, the cargo carrier had transported 600 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to over 80 destinations.

"This has been without question one of the most challenging years for our industry as the pandemic continues to create difficulties across the entire supply chain and across all modes of transportation," says Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. "However, Emirates SkyCargo has been a first mover in ensuring that trade lanes remain open by reinstating flights and providing additional capacity on key trade routes across six continents. We remain committed to offering the highest levels of service to our customers with safety at the centre of everything we do."

The air cargo carrier transported over 265,000 tonnes of perishables and food on its flights in 2021.

Emirates SkyCargo had operated more than 27,800 cargo flights on passenger aircraft between March 2020 and March 2021, the most by any global air carrier.

"Throughout the year, Emirates SkyCargo continued to operate cargo flights on its passenger aircraft and mini freighters (passenger aircraft with seats removed from Economy Class), supplementing much needed cargo capacity and transporting goods and commodities seamlessly from origin to destination. The air cargo carrier operated more than 20,000 cargo-only flights on passenger aircraft during 2021."

By the end of June 2021, Emirates SkyCargo was operating to more than 140 destinations, restoring 90 percent of its pre-Covid network.

"In May 2021, Emirates SkyCargo announced that it was establishing a humanitarian air bridge between Dubai and India to transport urgent medical and relief items. More than 100 tonnes of cargo were flown free of charge within the first three weeks of the announcement of the airbridge."

The carrier outlined its roadmap for 2022-2024 for its freighter fleet at the Dubai Airshow in November 2021. "The air cargo carrier announced that it had invested $1 billion for acquiring two new freighter aircraft from Boeing as well as for the conversion of four Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into freighters by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)."

So, Emirates SkyCargo navigated the complex landscape of the global logistics and supply chain industry in 2021 "by focusing on its signature strengths and values - agility and responsiveness, customer focus, innovation, fleet and network capabilities."