Emirates SkyCargo focuses on fresh with new perishables service

Emirates SkyCargo focuses on fresh with new perishables service

Emirates SkyCargo has launched Emirates SkyFresh – a service to help maintain the freshness of perishables and fresh consumables during transportation and a new cool dolly product.

Emirates SkyFresh brings together the carrier’s state-of-the-art infrastructure at its hub in Dubai, a modern fleet of widebodied aircraft, and innovative cool chain services including the brand new ‘Ventilated Cool Dolly’ to be used to handle perishables such as fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood, meat and flowers.

Emirates SkyFresh will feature three levels – Emirates SkyFresh, Emirates SkyFresh Breathe and Emirates SkyFresh Active – offering varied levels of cool chain protection for different kinds of perishables.

The basic product Emirates SkyFresh, is geared towards temperature tolerant fruits and vegetables and will offer quick ramp transportation and thermal protection through Emirates SkyCargo’s ‘White Cover’ blanket.

Emirates SkyFresh Breathe provides protection for temperature sensitive perishables such as fresh cut flowers, ready to sell cut fruits and vegetables and fresh fish. Unique features will include prioritised ground handling as well as the use of the Emirates SkyFresh Ventilated Cool Dolly.

Emirates SkyFresh Active will offer the highest protection for perishables that cannot withstand any temperature deviation using specialised temperature controlled containers during transportation.

The Ventilated Cool Dolly is a cool chain protection product which helps preserve the freshness of perishables that require constant circulation of fresh cool air.

It not only maintains a constant temperature while transporting cargo, but also has a ventilation system that allows it to bring in fresh air from outside. The fresh air is then cleaned using custom built filters, cooled and then circulated inside the refrigerated interior where the temperature sensitive perishable cargo is stored.

The dolly features aluminium and PU insulated panels and can carry a weight of up to 16 tonnes and can fit a variety of belly hold/lower deck Unit Loading Devices (ULDs), including pallets, in its interior.

The carrier says moving perishables is an important part of its business as people all over the world are increasingly aware and interested in culinary flavours and produce from different countries and regions.

In 2016, Emirates SkyCargo transported close to 400,000 tonnes of perishables across its global network of over 150 destinations. This included products as diverse as salmon from Norway, strawberries from California, flowers from Ecuador, meat from Australia, mangoes from the Indian subcontinent, wine and cheese from France.

Since 2015 Emirates SkyCargo has brought over 20,000 tonnes of perishables exports from the US to the rest of the world. Some of the most important exports from the US include cherries from Seattle, lobsters from Boston, fruits and vegetables such as strawberries and avocadoes and asparagus from California, meat from Texas and fruits such as oranges from Florida.

The carrier helps Australian food exporters bring a range of products from meat to cheese to the Middle East and other parts of the world. Over 4000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables are uplifted from India every month and brought to the Middle East and beyond. Freighters bring fresh cut flowers from Nairobi in Kenya and Quito in Ecuador to Amsterdam.

Emirates SkyCargo operates a fleet of 259 wide-bodied aircraft including 15 freighters – 13 Boeing 777-Fs and two B747-400ERFs. It has over 25,000 square metres of temperature controlled storage space in Dubai and reefer trucks operating 24/7 between Dubai World Central and Dubai International airport.

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James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.

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