Emirates Airline said it may add North American freighter routes beyond the six it already serves, just as US carriers seek to block the expansion of Arabian Gulf operators they accuse of receiving subsidies.
There is an "absolute possibility" that Emirates, already the world's top international cargo carrier, will add more North American destinations using its freighter fleet, said Henrik Ambak, the senior vice president for global cargo operations.
The company has 12 Boeing 777 freighters that can carry 103 tonnes and two 747-400 freighters able to haul 117 tonnes.
While Emirates has built itself into a top cargo player using belly space in a fleet of 217 passenger jets that serve 127 cities, the carrier's SkyCargo arm offers freighter flights to 50 locations from Al Maktoum International Airport. North America, along with Africa, is the company's main growth target, Mr Ambak said.
Additional freighter routes would open a new front in Emirates' tussle with US rivals, which are beginning to feel the pinch from a capacity splurge that has already resulted in European airlines losing market share. Delta, American and United airlines are lobbying for a review of open skies deals that grant access to Gulf carriers after accusing them of receiving US$42 billion in aid.
Emirates says it currently operates twice-weekly freighters to Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and Los Angeles and has a five-times-a-week operation to New York in an alliance with the airline arm of the Dutch parcel service TNT Express. It also runs cargo planes to Mexico City, and carries freight in the holds of passenger jets to nine US destinations, plus Toronto.
SkyCargo, the freighter division of Emirates, is targeting a 10 per cent increase in volume in the year starting April 1, after an 8 per cent gain in the 2014 fiscal year, Mr Ambak said.
"In recent years we've very successfully built Africa through Dubai and very recently we see a sharp growth in North America," he said.
Cargo traffic to the carrier's established markets of Europe and Asia remains strong, he added.
As in the passenger market, the bulk of the cargo carried by Emirates bypasses Dubai, which serves as a transit hub, with about 80 per cent headed for markets elsewhere, Mr Ambak said.
Within SkyCargo, two-thirds of cargo moves in passenger planes from the company's main Dubai International base, and one-third through the freighters stationed at Al Maktoum International.
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How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Kill%20Bill%20Volume%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Quentin%20Tarantino%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Uma%20Thurman%2C%20David%20Carradine%20and%20Michael%20Madsen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.