Emirates SkyCargo expands India cargo network amid export growth

Dubai: Emirates SkyCargo is expanding its support for India’s export sector, one of the fastest-growing in the world. Air cargo plays a key role in India's international trade, facilitating the movement of high-value and time-sensitive goods to global markets. An estimated 2.2 million tonnes of international cargo moves through Indian airports annually. Against this backdrop, Emirates SkyCargo connects businesses, manufacturers and exporters to customers across the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa, offering more than 3,000 tonnes of weekly air cargo capacity across nine gateways. During FY2025/26, Emirates SkyCargo transported more than 153,000 tonnes of exports from India on its flights, supporting key sectors driving the country’s growth. Major export commodities carried by the airline included pharmaceuticals, perishables, high-tech electronics, engineering and automotive components, and fashion goods. On average, Emirates SkyCargo transports more than 650 tonnes of pharmaceuticals and over 600 tonnes of fresh food and other perishables from India to global destinations via Dubai each week. Exports also included seasonal products such as Indian mangoes. Nearly 2,900 tonnes of Indian mangoes were flown to customers worldwide between April and June 2026 on Emirates SkyCargo. Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “India is a strategic market for Emirates SkyCargo. With a fast-growing economy, the country is strengthening its position as a hub for manufacturing and production, expanding exports and trade corridors across the world. At Emirates SkyCargo, we are enabling Indian exporters to connect quickly and efficiently with international customers by providing rapid and reliable access to global supply chains. We have recently deployed our freighter aircraft to three additional gateways in India to help customers transport their goods to global markets. With our extensive network covering more than 150 destinations, access to both maindeck and bellyhold capacity, and specialised cargo solutions, Emirates SkyCargo remains committed to supporting India’s export growth and expanding trade opportunities.” Expanded network of freighter destinations To meet growing demand for export capacity, Emirates SkyCargo has introduced new weekly freighter services to Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, taking its total weekly freighter flights to India to seven. The freighter services complement capacity offered on Emirates’ 167 weekly passenger flights and provide direct, high-capacity links to global trade routes. Deepening India-UAE trade Emirates SkyCargo is also supporting growing trade between India and the UAE, driven by the strengthening economic partnership between the two countries and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into effect in May 2022. With non-oil trade between the two economies growing at around 15% annually, Emirates SkyCargo transported more than 28,000 tonnes of exports from India to the UAE in FY2025/26, up 24% from the previous year. Road Feeder Service In addition to its online gateways, Emirates SkyCargo provides extra connectivity through an extensive road feeder network, giving customers access to offline locations across India. Over the past 12 months, more than 4,500 tonnes of import and export cargo have been transported through the trucking network, enabling businesses outside gateway cities to access Emirates SkyCargo’s global network. Emirates SkyCargo provides cargo capacity through Emirates’ fleet of more than 280 aircraft, including dedicated freighters. The carrier offers transportation solutions for pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, e-commerce, aerospace components and valuable cargo, supporting customers across six continents.