Emirates SkyCargo, the world’s largest international cargo airline, has operated the first of its scheduled weekly freighter service to Luxembourg on June 12.

On arrival at Luxembourg, the freighter was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute. Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter operation between Luxembourg and Dubai World Central is one of the first steps in the implementation of the strategic operational partnership between Emirates SkyCargo and Cargolux Airlines announced in May this year.

Emirates SkyCargo will operate its Boeing 777 freighter aircraft on this route providing a total cargo capacity of over 100 tonnes. The Boeing 777 freighter aircraft is one of the most modern and technologically advanced freighters available with one of the lowest fuel burn of any comparable size aircraft.

The strategic partnership between Emirates SkyCargo and Cargolux allows for customers of both carriers to access a wider range of destinations and services through block space and interline agreements between the two players. Emirates SkyCargo’s new freighter service facilitates increased connectivity between Cargolux’s hub at Luxembourg  and Emirates SkyCargo’s hub at Dubai adding to the thrice weekly freighter service that Cargolux operates to Dubai World Central.

At Luxembourg, ground handling of the Emirates SkyCargo’s freighters will be carried out at the same facility as Cargolux and at Dubai, Cargolux freighters are handled by Emirates SkyCargo allowing for seamless transit of cargo between the two air cargo operators. Smooth movement of cargo is also enabled by other factors including the common EU Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certification of both hubs.

“Emirates SkyCargo is delighted to start our weekly freighter operations to Luxembourg,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo. “This is an important step in our operational partnership with Cargolux through which we will be able to offer our customers an enhanced reach across each other’s networks, as well as an enriched service offering building upon our compatibility in ground handling and standard operating procedures for cargo transportation,” he added.

“Cargolux is proud to welcome Emirates SkyCargo at our home base in Luxembourg,” says Richard Forson, Cargolux president & CEO. “As the leading Gulf airline and one of the premier carriers worldwide, Emirates is as important a player in the industry as Cargolux is. With the arrival of SkyCargo’s first freighter here, we open a new chapter in our history and lay the foundation for a fruitful cooperation for the benefit of our customers. Our supplementary capabilities allow us to develop service offerings that both of us could not provide on our own.”

Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter will arrive at Luxembourg at 13.25 local time every Monday and will depart to Dubai World Central at 15.25 local time on the same day. Luxembourg joins Emirates SkyCargo’s global network of over 150 destinations in more than 80 countries across six continents. – TradeArabia News Service