Flydubai Cargo goes global

The low-cost carrier can now transport goods to points in Europe, the US, Australasia and the Far East in addition to destinations in the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Central & Eastern Europe.

Over the past ten months, Flydubai Cargo has forged a number of interline agreements with airlines including Emirates and British Airways and Estonia Air as well as Coyne Airways and Jet Airways. This has helped the division extend its reach beyond flydubai's passenger network. Goods transported include general cargo, perishable items, textiles, electronics, courier, mail, and pharmaceuticals.

Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said, "We set up our cargo division with the aim of making the transport of goods simple, accessible and affordable. Through these interline agreements we have opened new routes and thus new avenues for trade. We are now able to deliver goods from Sudan to Sydney and also provide Nepal's handicraft industry with access to consumers in the US, Europe and Australia."

Flydubai Cargo's network, combined with its affordable rates and tie up with Calogi, a web based Global Distribution System for the air cargo supply chain, has encouraged businesses across the world to transport their goods with the Dubai carrier. Manufacturers in Serbia, for example, which was previously underserved by direct air and cargo links, export specialist sporting and spare parts to Australia via Dubai, while ship spares are transported from Amsterdam in The Netherlands the GCC and Indian Subcontinent.

Next month, Flydubai Cargo will become the first cargo operator to offer direct links between Dubai and Bucharest, Romania, as well as Dubai and Skopje, Macedonia. Flights will start on 1 October 2012 and 18 October 2012 respectively.

Flydubai Cargo's on-time record, meanwhile, has prompted exports from the Indian Subcontinent and CIS in the form of perishable goods such as meat, fruits, vegetables and flowers. There has also been demand in Europe for live tropical fish from Port Sudan. With Dubai International Airport being a logistics hub, goods travelling on Flydubai flights can be connected in as little as one hour of arrival in Dubai. It takes from eight hours to move shipments carried by interline partners.

"The wide range of products being transported by Flydubai Cargo shows the demand for a timely, affordable and reliable service. Less than a year into operations, we have grown our network as well as our customer base and aim to continue serving a global audience as our range and operations expand," added Al Ghaith.