Emirates SkyCargo expands South American freighter network

Emirates SkyCargo has increased its freighter operations across South America, adding seven weekly flights since March 2026 as export volumes rise across Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador.

The additional services include three weekly freighter flights to Buenos Aires, two to São Paulo and one each to Bogotá and Quito.

According to the carrier, export volumes increased year on year during the first half of its 2026/27 financial year, with Argentina recording the strongest growth at 57%. Brazil followed with 22%, Colombia with 18% and Ecuador with 14%.

Since April 2026, Emirates SkyCargo has transported more than 22,000 tonnes of export cargo from its South American markets, representing an 18% increase compared with the same period last year.

Emirates SkyCargo increases capacity across four markets

Ecuador remains Emirates SkyCargo’s largest South American export market. In May 2026, the carrier introduced a sixth weekly freighter service from Quito, increasing available export capacity to 600 tonnes per week.

The flights connect Quito with Amsterdam, a major distribution centre for the international flower trade.

Flowers account for more than 90% of Emirates SkyCargo’s export volumes from Ecuador. During the 2025/26 financial year, the airline transported nearly 24,000 tonnes of flowers from the country.

Since April 2024, total export cargo carried from Ecuador has reached approximately 60,000 tonnes.

In Colombia, Emirates SkyCargo introduced a weekly freighter service to Bogotá in May 2026, providing additional capacity for flowers and fresh produce.

The carrier transported more than 3,500 tonnes of flowers from Colombia during the 2025/26 financial year. Total exports from the country have approached 14,000 tonnes since April 2024.

Argentina records strongest export growth

Emirates SkyCargo began weekly freighter operations to Buenos Aires in March 2026 before increasing frequencies to three per week in July.

The expansion coincided with a 57% year-on-year increase in export volumes during the first half of the 2026/27 financial year.

Since April 2024, the carrier has transported approximately 5,000 tonnes of exports from Argentina, including fresh fruit, salmon and meat products.

In Brazil, Emirates SkyCargo added two weekly freighter frequencies during 2026, bringing its São Paulo operations to four flights per week.

Export volumes from Brazil increased 22% year on year during the first half of the financial year. Since April 2024, the airline has carried nearly 20,000 tonnes of export cargo from the country.

Perishables remain central to regional operations

Temperature-sensitive cargo represents a substantial share of Emirates SkyCargo’s South American business.

Since April 2024, the carrier has transported close to 80,000 tonnes of perishables from the four markets, including approximately 66,000 tonnes of flowers.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, said the additional freighter services were intended to support exports of fresh produce and other commodities requiring air transport.

The regional expansion is taking place alongside changes to the airline’s wider freighter fleet.

Since March 2026, Emirates SkyCargo has received seven Boeing 777 production freighters and its first Boeing 777-300ERSF converted from an Emirates passenger aircraft.

The carrier expects to operate 23 dedicated freighters by the end of March 2027.

Its global freighter network also expanded from just over 40 destinations in March 2026 to more than 60 by July 2026, alongside cargo capacity available on Emirates passenger flights.