Emirates SkyCargo launches weekly Toronto freighter service

Emirates SkyCargo has started a weekly freighter service to Toronto Pearson Airport, boosting air cargo connectivity between Canada and the UAE and facilitating increasing bilateral trade.

Emirates SkyCargo has outlined the schedule for its new weekly freighter service connecting Dubai, Amsterdam, and Toronto, further strengthening global cargo links. Flight EK9943 departs Dubai World Central on Fridays, makes a stop in Amsterdam, and continues to Toronto, while the return flight EK9944 leaves Toronto the same day and arrives back in Dubai on Saturday.

The service is expected to support Canadian exports, particularly high-value and time- and temperature-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, and electronics, linking them to Dubai and the wider Emirates network. On the Amsterdam–Toronto sector, the flight also provides additional main deck capacity for transporting pharmaceuticals, perishables, and other manufactured goods from Europe to Canada.

Using a suite of specialised logistics solutions, Emirates SkyCargo ensures the swift and efficient movement of cargo from origin to destination, helping customers develop more flexible and resilient supply chains.

The airline has been a key enabler of trade between Canada and global markets since launching passenger services to Toronto in 2007. Since 2023, it has transported over 11,000 tonnes of export cargo from Canada. The new freighter service enhances existing bellyhold capacity on passenger flights between Dubai and Toronto, highlighting Emirates’ continued commitment to the Canadian market. In July 2023, the carrier also introduced cargo capacity on passenger flights to and from Montreal.

Emirates SkyCargo operates a worldwide network across six continents, utilising a fleet of more than 270 aircraft, including dedicated freighters. The airline has recently taken delivery of four Boeing 777 freighters since March 2026 and is set to add six more to its fleet within the year.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates SkyCargo, said, “Our freighter service to Toronto is an important milestone for Emirates SkyCargo as we continue to strategically expand our freighter fleet and network in line with evolving trade corridors. Exports from Canada to the UAE have been growing steadily in recent years, increasing 24% year on year between 2023 and 2024, facilitated by direct air connectivity and strong bilateral trade relations.

He added, “Our weekly freighter to Toronto further amplifies this positive momentum, providing Canadian businesses with an additional 100 tons of export capacity every week over and above belly hold cargo capacity on Emirates passenger flights. Additionally, the flight will also provide important connectivity between Canada and one of its largest trading partners, the EU, on the inbound segment with a stop at Amsterdam.”

Meanwhile, Kurush Minocher, Chief Commercial Officer at Toronto Pearson, stated, "The launch of Emirates' freighter service to Toronto Pearson is a significant milestone for our airport. As Canada’s largest air cargo hub, handling approximately 45 per cent of the country’s total, we play a critical role in fueling the economy by connecting Canadian businesses to global markets. This new service provides shippers with direct, reliable access to one of the world’s most expansive cargo networks and reflects continued confidence in Toronto Pearson as a strategic gateway for global trade.”