Emirates SkyCargo Expands Global Freight Network With Weekly Cargo Service to Kazakhstan’s Almaty International Airport
(IN SHORT) Emirates SkyCargo will launch dedicated weekly Boeing 777F freighter flights to Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan from June 16, 2026, making Almaty the carrier’s first cargo destination in Central Asia. The new Tuesday service from Dubai will provide more than 100 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity and is designed to connect Kazakhstan’s largest city and its surrounding region with Emirates SkyCargo’s global network through Dubai. The route will support the movement of key commodities including electronics, perishables, machinery and consumer goods, while opening a new trade corridor between Central Asia and markets across six continents. Emirates SkyCargo said the expansion supports its role as a global trade facilitator, its long-term growth strategy and the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda, which aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global logistics hub. The launch also comes as the carrier expands its fleet, having received four Boeing 777 freighters since March 2026, with six more expected by the end of the year, bringing its freighter fleet to 21 aircraft by December 2026.
(PRESS RELEASE) DUBAI, UAE, 2026-Jun-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Emirates SkyCargo will launch dedicated weekly freighter flights to Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan, marking the carrier’s first cargo destination in Central Asia and expanding its global freight network into an important regional trade hub.
The new service will begin on June 16, 2026, and will operate from Dubai to Almaty using Emirates SkyCargo’s Boeing 777F aircraft. The weekly Tuesday freighter flight will provide more than 100 tonnes of cargo capacity each week, supporting the movement of goods between Kazakhstan, Central Asia and international markets through Dubai.
Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, is increasingly positioned as a commercial and logistics gateway for Central Asia. By adding the city to its freighter network, Emirates SkyCargo aims to create a new trade corridor connecting businesses in the region with customers and supply chains across the carrier’s worldwide network.
The service is expected to support the transport of a broad range of commodities, including electronics, perishables, machinery and consumer goods. Through Emirates SkyCargo’s Dubai hub, businesses in Almaty and the surrounding region will gain access to wide-body cargo connectivity to destinations across six continents.
Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, said the weekly freighter service to Almaty supports the carrier’s role as a global trade facilitator and represents an important step in expanding connectivity to Central Asia. He said the route will help businesses in Almaty and nearby markets scale their international operations while giving global customers faster access to a strategic and growing marketplace.
Abbas added that the expansion aligns with Emirates SkyCargo’s long-term growth strategy and the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda, which aims to accelerate foreign trade and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global logistics hub.
The Almaty launch comes as Emirates SkyCargo continues to expand its freighter fleet and network in response to rising global cargo demand. Since March 2026, the airline has taken delivery of four new Boeing 777 freighters, with six additional freighters scheduled for delivery during the rest of the year. These additions are expected to increase Emirates’ freighter fleet to 21 aircraft by December 2026.
Alongside dedicated freighter operations, Emirates SkyCargo also provides bellyhold cargo capacity on Emirates’ passenger aircraft network. This combination allows the carrier to offer customers flexible and scalable air freight options across major global markets.
The new Almaty service strengthens Dubai’s role as a connecting point for trade between Central Asia and the wider world, while giving Kazakhstan-based businesses additional capacity to move time-sensitive, high-value and temperature-sensitive goods through Emirates SkyCargo’s international network.
Media contact:
pr@emirates.com
SOURCE: The Emirates Group
