Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has further strengthened its extensive route network with the launch of a weekly freighter service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from yesterday (April 6).

The new freighter service to Cambodia’s capital is the carrier’s 53rd destination in its worldwide freighter network and its 13th in the Far East, said a statement from the company.

From Phnom Penh, cargo will be transported via a trucking network to reach other cities and regions in Cambodia, it added

According to Cambodia Airports, which manages the country’s three international airports, the volume of air freight shipments to and from Cambodia increased 14 per cent in 2015 to 38,065 tonnes, it said.

The Cambodia-EU trade lane for air cargo is also one of the fastest-growing trade lanes linking emerging and developed markets with a compounded annual growth rate of 16.5 per cent in the last three years (2012 to 2015). The main imports to Cambodia are expected to include fabric and leather while the main exports are textiles and garments, said the statement.

Emirates SkyCargo will be starting its service with an MD 11 freighter aircraft, providing dedicated outsourced capacity for 80 tonnes of cargo. The aircraft’s wide body will also enable it to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments, it stated.

In addition to belly-hold cargo services on Emirates’ fleet of 236 aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo has a fleet of 15 freighters, comprising 13 Boeing 777Fs and two Boeing 747-400 ERFs that operate from their base at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport in the UAE, it added.

Hiran Perera, senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Cambodia’s air cargo market is growing at a robust rate with Europe and the US being key export markets.”

“Establishing a presence in this market will position our company to benefit from the healthy growth potential. Our strong route network and Dubai’s location as a global cargo hub mean that we can connect our customers in Asia to 150 destinations, including 42 gateways in Europe, 14 gateways in North America and 27 gateways in Africa,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service