OREANDA-NEWS. Emirates, a global connector and facilitator of vital trade links, marked its first year of operations in Sialkot, Pakistan. Over the past 12 months, Sialkot has emerged as an important passenger and cargo destination for the airline in the region.

Since the start of operations in 2013, Emirates has carried over 79,000 passengers representing nearly 80% load factor on the route and moved more than 2,400 tonnes of cargo to and from Sialkot.

“When we commenced flight services to Sialkot, one of our primary objectives was to become instrumental in boosting the regional economy by providing convenient cargo services,” said Jassim Saif, Vice President Cargo Commercial - North Africa & West Asia. “The route has performed well, with increasing volumes of high-density cargo carried out of Sialkot to important markets in Europe, the Americas and Africa via our hub in Dubai,”

Emirates operates four weekly flights to Sialkot with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft

Emirates operates four weekly flights to Sialkot with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a two-class configuration, offering 54 seats in Business Class and 183 in Economy Class. The aircraft operating the Sialkot service can carry up to 17 tonnes of cargo per flight, boosting trade opportunities for the region.

Popular commodities shipped out of Sialkot in the past year include perishables like meat, fruits and vegetables, scientific and hospital instruments, musical instruments, sportswear, leather goods, textile, apparel, and handicrafts. While top imports include personal effects, household goods, textile, apparel, electronics, auto spare parts, and chemical products.

Sialkot is the capital of Sialkot District located in the north-east of the Punjab province in Pakistan. Situated approximately 125 kilometres north of Lahore, it provides Emirates' customers with an alternative gateway to the Export Triangle of Pakistan - the area encompassing Gujrat, Sialkot and Gujranwala. The city is renowned as a key manufacturing base particularly for sporting goods and clothing, surgical instruments, cutlery, ceramics and leather garments.

Emirates SkyCargo is the world's largest international air cargo carrier, offering belly-hold capacity across Emirates fleet of 231 wide body aircraft, 14 of which are freighters. Emirates' Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft is capable of carrying 103 tonnes of cargo, with its main deck being the widest of any aircraft, enabling it to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments.

The Emirates Group employs over 4,000 Pakistanis across its business divisions, including 86 Cabin Crew, 17 Pilots and a team of over 230 based in Pakistan. The airline operates 67 flights a week to Pakistan including four to Sialkot, 36 to Karachi, 11 each to Lahore and Islamabad and five to Peshawar.