The Emirates Corporation for Commercial Postal Services (Empost) has selected Al Ain International Airport as the main hub for its international cargo business. Scheduled freighter operations from the airport started last month. Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) said; “This operation will take advantage of Al Ain Airport’s strategic location with easy road access to the entire UAE and international air and sea connections.”

Abdulla Al Daboos, director general of Emirates Post and chairman of Empost, commented: “The launch of Empost scheduled freighter operations is historic and our expansion plans have been progressing over the past four years as per the vision of the management.” He added that Empost’s entry into the freighter operations, trucking and logistics will add a new dimension to the organisation.

Empost’s scheduled freighter operations has been part of a long-term plan that includes a fleet expansion to 50 aircraft by the year 2012. The scheduled freighter operations will be implemented in four phases that will network with major cities in the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Europe by the end of 2008.

During the first phase of operations, Empost Freighter will operate two flights a week from Dhaka to Al Ain and onward via Istanbul to Amsterdam. While Al Ain will be the main hub for Empost Freighter operations, the European sector will be connected through its regional hub in Amsterdam. Empost also has finalised a European trucking network to provide transhipments throughout Europe.