Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, is set to expand its Italian cargo network when it launches daily non-stop flights to Bologna from early next month.

The daily service from November 3, will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, offering 23 tonnes of belly-hold capacity on the first long-haul wide-bodied flight to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, said a statement from Emirates SkyCargo.

Flight EK93 will depart Dubai at 8:45 am, arriving in Bologna at 12:20 pm. Flight EK 94 will depart Bologna at 2:40 pm, arriving in Dubai at 11:30 pm, it said.

Bologna, the seventh most populous city in Italy and Emirates’ fourth gateway in the country, is home to some of the world’s most famous car manufacturers, including Lamborghini, Ducati, Ferrari Maserati and Pagani. It is also an emerging centre for the agriculture, fashion and retail industries.

With a total cargo capacity of 46 tonnes per day, the Emirates Sky Cargo flights will connect customers in Bologna with cities across the world. The top export destinations include the UAE, Japan, China, India and Australia. The top exports are expected to include luxury vehicles, textiles and clothing, ceramics/tiles, marbles and jewellery. Top exports into Bologna are expected to be comprised of manufacturing parts, pharmaceuticals, leather garments and perishable foods, said the statement.

As part of its range of services, Emirates SkyCargo allows customers to ship fruits, vegetables and pharmaceuticals using its cool chain services, which are designed to preserve and expedite the transport of temperature and time sensitive goods, it added.

Customers will also be able to take advantage of premium car shipping services, which include door-to-door delivery and protective coverings, it stated.

Emirates SkyCargo already operates flights to three other Italian cities, with triple daily flights to Rome and Milan and a daily flight to Venice. The airline also offers a daily flight to New York from Milan. With the launch of Bologna, Emirates SkyCargo will increase its European network to 38 destinations.

In addition to belly-hold capacity in its all wide-body fleet of 240 passenger aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo has a fleet of 15 dedicated freighters, 13 Boeing 777Fs and two Boeing 747-400ERFs.

Its freighter fleet serves more than 50 destinations around the world from its freighter hub Emirates SkyCentral at Dubai South’s Al Maktoum International Airport, which opened to flights in 2010.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo, said: “Bologna is an economic hub in Italy and for the entire European continent. But because of a lack of wide-bodied aircraft service to the region, many businesses must truck their goods over long distances to reach the closest major airport.”

“With the introduction of Emirates SkyCargo service to Bologna using the Boeing 777-300ER, businesses in the region will have more efficient channels to reach their customers in cities around the world,” he said. – TradeArabia News Service