OREANDA-NEWS. Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates and global connector of trade and economies, has added Los Angeles to its network of freighter destinations across the United States, with the start of a weekly service to the city.

Los Angeles recently joined Chicago, Atlanta and Houston in Emirates SkyCargo's US freighter network. In addition to freighter flights, Emirates SkyCargo also has belly-hold cargo services to Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C., Boston and Dallas.

“We have a network of ten key cities across the United States, which enables us to provide broad access to the world's largest economy for businesses across our network, and for American businesses in other parts of the world. The US economy is rebounding and we are seeing an upswing in the demand for air cargo services,” said Hiran Perera, Emirates Senior Vice President Cargo Planning and Freighters.

An Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 Freighter at Dubai World Central's Al Maktoum International Airport

“Los Angeles ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the US in the amount of air cargo tonnage processed, and handled over 1,9 million tons of air cargo valued at nearly USD 87 billion in 2012, which is indicative of its importance as an air cargo hub. We anticipate good growth out of Los Angeles,” he added.

Commenting on the new service, Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports, the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and two other airports, said, “Los Angeles International Airport is the primary cargo airport serving Southern California. We welcome Emirates SkyCargo to our region's vast air-cargo-handling network of airlines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and cargo facilities. We look forward to the economic benefits Emirates SkyCargo's weekly freighter service will provide”.

Emirates SkyCargo uses a Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft on the route, which is capable of carrying 103 tonnes of cargo, and with its main deck door being the widest of any freighter aircraft, it's able to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments. The top exports from Los Angeles are mainly perishables ranging from fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, chilled and frozen meat and seafood, foodstuffs, as well as personal effects, construction equipment and electrical products, while top imports range from textiles, to perishables, electronics and personal effects.

In 2013, Emirates SkyCargo transported a total of 49 000 tons of cargo from the United States, equalling a 134 tons a day, while it carries more than 940 tons of cargo from the US to various points across the world each week. The top three exports from the US are machinery, construction equipment and electrical products and its three top imports are apparel, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals.