Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Dubai-based Emirates, is set to expand its US cargo network to 11 destinations, when the airline launches a daily service to Orlando, Florida from September 1.

The Dubai – Orlando route will be served by a Boeing 777-200 LR, which has a belly-hold capacity of up to 17 tonnes of cargo per flight. Emirates SkyCargo also has belly-hold cargo services to San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, with the latter four cities also forming part of the air cargo carrier’s US freighter network, along with Atlanta.

“With the addition of Orlando to the Emirates SkyCargo network, we will now serve 11 points across the US, giving us good connectivity to serve our customers both within the country and across our network. Last year we carried more than 100,000 tonnes of cargo to and from the US, facilitating foreign trade and opportunities between the world’s largest economy and markets within our network, mainly in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

“Every week, for example, we carry items such as auto parts out of JFK, lobsters from Boston, oil field equipment from Houston, and aircraft parts from Seattle, among many other types of commodities and products from various points in the US,” he added.

Emirates SkyCargo currently has a weekly capacity of 1,690 tonnes in both the belly hold of passenger aircraft and freighter flights out of the US.

It expects to carry a range of exports from Orlando including aircraft parts, pharmaceuticals, perfume and colognes and machine parts. Imports are likely to be electronics, garments, automotive spare parts, aircraft spare parts, construction equipment, hospital instruments and equipment. Catchment areas for both imports and exports moving through Orlando and carried by Emirates SkyCargo are expected to include Miami, Tampa and Atlanta. – TradeArabia News Service