Emirates SkyCargo, Cargolux launch codeshare partnership

The two airfreight carriers have agreed, as part of their larger operational partnership, to procure cargo capacity on each others’ flights, but with their own airway bills and flight numbers.    Airfreight carriers Cargolux Airlines and Emirates SkyCargo have agreed to partner in air cargo transportation as part of the companies’ strategic operational partnership announced earlier this year.
   Areas of operational partnership include block space and interline agreements, aircraft charter, hub connectivity between Dubai and Luxembourg and cargo handling cooperation, Emirates SkyCargo said in a statement.
   “The new codeshare partnership between the two carriers is a progression of the operational partnership under which both carriers would now be able to procure cargo capacity on each other’s flights and then offer it to their customers under their own airway bills and flight numbers,” said Emirates SkyCargo. The codeshare agreement will be applicable for cargo capacity on both passenger and freighter flights, the carrier noted. 
   “Over the last five months our operational partnership with Cargolux has gone from strength to strength. We have achieved a number of the milestones that we had targeted at the outset,” said Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice president of cargo at Emirates. “We will now be able to deepen this partnership through our codeshare agreement and offer a more seamless and broader range of product and service offerings to our customers.”
   In June 2017, Emirates SkyCargo commenced weekly freighter services to Luxembourg and began handling Cargolux’s freighter flights at Dubai World Central (DWC) in September. Since July 2017, Emirates SkyCargo has also chartered Boeing 747 freighter aircraft from Cargolux’s fleet, the company stated. 
   “I’m excited how well our partnership is developing,” said Richard Forson, Cargolux president and CEO. “This codeshare partnership is a natural progression in our cooperation and demonstrates the complementarity of both airlines. Our customers greatly benefit from this partnership as we can offer high-quality products and services to more destinations than ever before.”
   Emirates SkyCargo and Cargolux have stated that they will continue to “explore opportunities to further strengthen their operational partnership” for their mutual air cargo transport services.