Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, is adding Santiago, Chile to its flight network as a possible cargo destination, a move that could serve to further the reach of Chile’s billion-dollar salmon industry.
Starting on 5 July, Emirates SkyCargo will be offering its customers conducting business near Chile’s capital cargo capacities of up to 15 metric tons on its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, according to a press release from the government of Dubai. The decision to create the new routing point in Chile will help the country’s prized salmon and perishables exports travel even more expediently around the world, the press release said.
“With the launch of its services to Santiago, Emirates SkyCargo will be able to facilitate Chilean exports of salmon and other perishables to destinations on its global network. Chile is the world’s second largest producer of farmed salmon and exports of salmon from the country were valued at over USD 4.6 billion [EUR 3.9 billion] in the year 2017,” Dubai’s governmental officials said.
Santiago will become the airline’s sixth South American destination, alongside Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Viracopos in Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. The new Santiago route will offer “the fastest flight connections for cargo from Chile to destinations in East Asia including Shanghai, the Middle East, and Russia through Dubai,” Dubai officials said. Meanwhile, the main imports to Santiago are expected to be e-commerce shipments from East Asia.
The airline offers specialized transportation solutions for perishable cargo – Emirates Fresh – “to help ensure the freshness of Chilean salmon and fruits during transit.” Moreover, Emirates SkyCargo’s terminals in Dubai are also outfitted with extensive cool chain facilities, including dedicated temperature controlled storage areas and equipment such as Cool Dollies as well as thermal blankets to ensure cargo is well protected against thermal radiation.
Emirates SkyCargo is the world’s largest international cargo airline, operating a modern fleet of 268 aircraft that includes 14 freighters, 13 Boeing 777-Fs, and one B747F. Last year, the airline moved a total of 48,000 metric tons of cargo to and from South America, a number the airline expects to increase with its new destination point.
