CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2026 - Flipbook - Page 55
T
he air cargo landscape is evolving
rapidly, from shifting trade lanes to
increasing demand for predictability.
What is rede昀椀ning competitiveness in
today’s market?
In markets like India, competitiveness in air cargo is
increasingly de昀椀ned by the ability to provide adequate
and reliable capacity, particularly for outbound shipments.
Demand for outbound capacity remains constant, and
as India continues to grow in population and industrial
development, the need for e昀케cient cargo connectivity
becomes even more critical.
With increasing manufacturing and innovation,
there has been a noticeable shift in production toward
India. As an airline, our responsibility is to respond by
expanding capacity and strengthening connectivity to
support these growing trade 昀氀ows.
India also presents a highly diverse cargo landscape,
ranging from fresh produce and pharmaceuticals to
electronics and high-value goods such as jewellery.
This diversity makes the market dynamic and full
of opportunity. For us, India remains a key market
where we aim to continue expanding our presence as
demand grows.
With Emirates SkyCargo expanding its freighter
昀氀eet and network, how does increased capacity
translate into smarter product o昀昀erings rather
than just more uplift?
It’s not just about adding more uplift. While any airline
with aircraft can technically carry cargo, the real focus
at Emirates SkyCargo is on delivering high service
standards. With the growing diversi昀椀cation of cargo,
service quality, reliability and specialised handling
are more important than simply increasing capacity.
A large share of cargo moves through our hub in
Dubai, which connects markets such as India with destinations across the United States, the United Kingdom,
and Europe. For example, pharmaceutical shipments
moving from India to Chicago rely on seamless transit
through Dubai, requiring strong processes at every stage.
This also demands the right infrastructure, specialised equipment and well-trained teams. For temperaturesensitive shipments in particular, maintaining product
integrity is critical. Ultimately, it is not only about
demand or capacity, but about continuous investment
in people, technology and infrastructure to deliver the
service standards customers expect.
How are digital solutions such as online selfservice tools, Blockchain or digital payments
in cargo handling reshaping your customer
experience and operational e昀케ciency?
Digitalisation is playing an increasingly important role
in enhancing both customer experience and operational
e昀케ciency. Five or six years ago, we were perhaps not
as advanced as some others in the industry. However,
over the past few years, Emirates SkyCargo has made
signi昀椀cant progress and today ranks among the leaders
in digital capabilities within air cargo.
We have continuously enhanced our website and
digital platforms to provide customers with direct and
“Six of our largest global
pharmaceutical trade
lanes originate from India
and connect to markets
worldwide, highlighting
the scale and importance
of the market. To
support these segments
effectively, our approach
focusses on building the
right expertise within the
organisation.”
seamless access to our
services. At the same
time, we are integrated
with major global cargo
booking platforms, allowing customers to access
capacity in real time, view
pricing and manage bookings more e昀케ciently.
We are also introducing additional digital
tools, including online
payment solutions. Over the past year, systems have been implemented that allow customers to make secure digital payments
through links and online channels, re昀氀ecting the demand for
faster and more convenient transactions.
Ultimately, digital capabilities have become essential across the
industry. Customers expect seamless digital access, and we will
continue investing in digital platforms and emerging technologies
such as AI to stay at the forefront of innovation in global air cargo.
India is a thriving and diverse market and is emerging
as a growth engine for air cargo, particularly in pharma,
electronics and perishables. How are you tailoring
product innovation speci昀椀cally for the Indian market?
Markets like India are seeing rapid growth in cargo volumes across
sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and perishables. In
fact, six of our largest global pharmaceutical trade lanes originate
from India and connect to markets worldwide, highlighting the
scale and importance of the market.
To support these segments e昀昀ectively, our approach focusses
on building the right expertise within the organisation. Having
people with deep industry knowledge is critical. For example,
we recently brought in a dedicated industry expert to lead our
fresh cargo vertical, while the pharmaceutical segment is already
supported by a strong and experienced leadership team. These
specialists help drive innovation and develop solutions tailored
to the needs of the Indian market.
At the same time, segments such as valuable and vulnerable
cargo are also growing. Demand for high-value commodities
like gold and jewellery continues to rise in India, making it an
important market for specialised cargo solutions. By investing in
expertise and strengthening product capabilities, we aim to meet
the evolving expectations of customers in this dynamic market.
On a personal note, as someone leading product and
innovation at a global scale, what excites you most about
where Air Cargo is headed for the upcoming 昀椀ve years?
What excites me most is that the air cargo industry is constantly
evolving. In many ways, the only constant in this sector is
change. As markets shift, new opportunities emerge to innovate,
develop products and create smarter solutions that better meet
customer needs.
A key focus is simplifying the customer experience by removing
friction from the logistics process and making it easier to move
goods across global supply chains. At times, this also means
developing new solutions tailored to speci昀椀c customer challenges.
Ultimately, the goal is to make the process as seamless as
possible, enabling customers to deliver products faster, more
reliably and without unnecessary complexity. Being part of that
continuous innovation and helping shape the future of air cargo
over the next 昀椀ve years is what makes the role truly exciting.
CARGOCONNECT APRIL 2026 | 55
