Emirates, the world’s fourth-largest cargo airline by traffic and second-largest for passengers, announced on Wednesday a 15% increase in main-deck cargo capacity through a wet lease of two Boeing 747-400 freighters to accommodate rising demand.
These all-cargo aircraft are being leased under a multiyear transportation services agreement with Compass Cargo Airlines, based in Bulgaria, according to Emirates’ announcement.
Badr Abbas, divisional senior vice president for Emirates SkyCargo, noted, “We anticipate that demand will continue to grow, highlighting Dubai’s status as a global logistics hub.” The two carriers are in discussions to potentially expand their partnership, as stated by Emirates’ cargo division.
Compass Cargo Airlines, established less than three years ago, received its second 747-400 freighter, an extended-range model, on Tuesday, as reported by aircraft tracking site Flightradar24. This freighter previously operated for Turkish all-cargo carrier ACT Airlines under a contract with Qatar Airways Cargo until last month. Compass acquired its first 747-400 from ACT Airlines in mid-2023. Flightradar24 indicates that another 747-400ER freighter arrived at Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria from Istanbul on Thursday, suggesting Compass may have acquired a third freighter from ACT Airlines. Compass Cargo Airlines did not respond to inquiries sent to their general contact email.
In mid-December, a Compass 747 was seen operating multiple flights between Birmingham, England, Dubai, and Hong Kong, and it has been shuttling between Dubai and Hong Kong since January 9. An Emirates representative confirmed that both leased planes are now in service.
Regarding fleet expansion, Emirates SkyCargo took delivery of two 777 freighters from Boeing last year, deploying them in the Asia market to support robust growth in e-commerce exports. The current fleet consists of 16 aircraft—10 self-operated 777s and six Boeing 747-400s operated by contractors. While Emirates previously operated 11 freighters, one has recently been retired.
Last year, Emirates SkyCargo resumed outsourcing all-cargo 747 operations after halting the practice in 2017, awarding contracts to Michigan-based Kalitta Air and UAE’s Aerotranscargo. Currently, only Aerotranscargo is still in partnership with Emirates, according to company representatives.
The new aircraft enable Emirates SkyCargo to expand its network further. As of January 1, the carrier launched weekly freighter services from Copenhagen to its Dubai hub to address the growing transport needs from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Emirates previously offered bellyhold cargo capacity using passenger flights. The Boeing 777 currently utilized has a cargo capacity of about 94 tons.
In Dubai, shipments are efficiently routed worldwide via Emirates’ comprehensive passenger and cargo networks. Emirates SkyCargo reported over a 20% increase in cargo volume from Denmark in the past fiscal year ending March 31, driven by pharmaceutical shipments. With a strong life sciences sector, Copenhagen features extensive temperature-controlled warehousing which supports this industry. Dubai acts as a crucial reconsolidation hub for trade flowing between Europe, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
With the addition of Copenhagen, Emirates freighters now serve a total of 38 destinations. Emirates SkyCargo also oversees cargo transported in its passenger operations. Recently, five new destinations were added to the passenger network, including Johannesburg and Melbourne, which are expected to enhance freight volumes this year.
In 2024, air cargo demand rose by more than 10% year-over-year as shippers sought alternatives to ocean freight amid conflicts in the Red Sea and potential U.S. port strikes. The primary driving force remains e-commerce platforms, which occupy significant air cargo capacity from Asia.
Currently, more than 20% of global air cargo volumes are attributed to e-commerce, with over 60% of shipments from the greater Hong Kong area originating from Chinese online marketplaces, according to local airlines and industry experts. Freighters departing from China and other Asian regions were nearly full throughout the peak season last year.
Emirates has confirmed orders for 13 new 777 freighters, anticipated for delivery by the end of 2026. The airline plans to replace some older 777s with these new freighters, expecting to operate a total of 21 by 2026. Additionally, Emirates is investing in converting 10 Boeing 777-300 passenger jets into freighters through a collaboration with Israel Aircraft Industries, with the IAI conversion design currently undergoing regulatory reviews in the United States, Europe, and Israel for commercial production.
