Emirates SkyCargo expands transatlantic reach with Milan to New York freighter corridor

A new weekly cargo service connecting Northern Italy with the United States underscores the carrier's ambition to strengthen trade links between Europe and global markets

When goods travel between continents, efficiency becomes as essential as the cargo itself. Emirates SkyCargo has recognised this principle with the introduction of a new weekly freighter service between Milan Malpensa Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, commencing 5th December. The route represents a deliberate expansion of the carrier’s transatlantic capabilities and reflects the growing demands of international commerce.

The service operates with a Boeing 777F freighter, offering approximately 100 tonnes of capacity per flight. For Italian exporters, particularly those based in Lombardy, the direct connection addresses a strategic need. Italy’s northern region has long been a powerhouse of international trade, and the new route provides these businesses with faster, more direct access to North American consumers and distributors. The carrier currently provides more than 500 tonnes of weekly export capacity from Milan across its network, including bellyhold capacity on passenger aircraft. This additional main-deck freighter service will substantially enhance that offering.

The corridor runs both ways. On the return leg, businesses across the Greater New York region and the northeastern United States gain enhanced connectivity to markets throughout the Middle East and Asia via Dubai. This bidirectional flow reflects a sophisticated understanding of modern supply chains, where value moves in multiple directions across the globe. Export volumes carried by Emirates SkyCargo through New York area airports increased by 23 per cent between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years, suggesting that demand for such capacity has been building steadily.

Key commodities moving through both gateways exemplify the breadth of modern international trade. From Milan, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and clinical trial medicines travel alongside luxury fashion, industrial equipment and fresh produce. From New York, healthcare products, perishables, e-commerce shipments and machinery components flow outward. The specificity of these goods underscores why reliable, direct connectivity matters: fresh produce deteriorates, clinical medicines cannot tolerate delay, and luxury items demand careful handling.

This expansion represents part of a broader strengthening of Emirates SkyCargo’s North American footprint. During 2026, the carrier deepened its international presence through significant fleet expansion, taking delivery of eight freighter aircraft and extending its global network from more than 40 destinations in March to more than 60 by July. Additional services to Los Angeles and Dallas launched during the year, alongside increased frequencies to Miami.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates SkyCargo, noted that Milan serves as a vital air cargo gateway for Italy and Europe. The new freighter service will provide Italian exporters with greater access, flexibility and reliability when serving North American customers. Similarly, the return capacity meets the documented growth in exports from the Greater New York region, where businesses increasingly seek dependable international connectivity.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The expansion of Emirates SkyCargo’s network strengthens Dubai’s position as a global logistics hub and reinforces the UAE’s role as a connector between Europe and Asia. By establishing direct cargo corridors that funnel through Dubai, the service enhances the emirate’s strategic infrastructure and supports the broader regional economy through increased air cargo activity and related commercial services.

For Abu Dhabi and the UAE more broadly, the growth of Emirates SkyCargo reflects the diversification and resilience of the national economy. Trade connectivity benefits not only Dubai’s logistics sector but also creates opportunities across the emirates for businesses engaged in re-export, manufacturing, and regional distribution. The carrier’s fleet expansion and route development represent investment in infrastructure that serves the entire nation’s commercial interests and reinforces the UAE’s position within global trade networks.

Source: WAM

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