Emirates SkyCargo has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering India’s export ambitions, tapping into the essential role that air freight plays in international trade and the timely delivery of high-value, perishable goods to global markets.
Supporting India’s Export Growth
In the financial year 2025-2026, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 153,000 tonnes of Indian exports aboard its flights, significantly contributing to key sectors that drive economic growth in the country. The most notable exports included pharmaceuticals, perishables, advanced electronics, engineering components, automotive parts, and fashion products.
A Robust Air Cargo Network
Indian airports manage approximately 2.2 million tonnes of international cargo annually, and Emirates SkyCargo plays a pivotal role in enhancing the export ecosystem by connecting businesses, manufacturers, and exporters with clients across the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and beyond. The airline boasts a weekly air cargo capacity exceeding 3,000 tonnes through nine gateways in India.
Emirates SkyCargo transports an average of over 650 tonnes of pharmaceuticals and more than 600 tonnes of fresh food and other perishable items from India to various destinations worldwide, utilising Dubai as a central transit hub.
Strategic Importance of the Indian Market
According to Badr Abbas, Senior Vice President of Cargo at Emirates, “India represents a strategic market for Emirates SkyCargo. We work consistently to enable Indian exporters to reach their international customers swiftly and efficiently by connecting them to global supply chains through reliable and fast solutions.”
Expanding Services to Meet Demand
To address the growing demand for export capacity from India, Emirates SkyCargo has launched new weekly cargo services to Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, bringing the total number of dedicated cargo flights to India to seven weekly flights. These services complement the existing capacity available on Emirates’ 167 weekly passenger flights to India, providing exporters with direct connections and substantial capacity to key global trade corridors.
Enhancing Trade Ties Between India and the UAE
Emirates SkyCargo continues to support the accelerating trade flow between India and the UAE, leveraging the growing economic partnership between the two nations and the positive outcomes from the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that took effect in May 2022.
With bilateral non-oil trade between the countries expanding at an annual rate of around 15%, Emirates SkyCargo has played a significant role in facilitating this increase, having transported over 28,000 tonnes of Indian exports to the UAE during the financial year 2025-2026, marking a 24% rise compared to the previous year.