This issue of payload in a large part reflects the nature of the global air cargo industry, with specialised products – particularly pharmaceuticals – being a key focus. The cover story of this issue details the latest moves by the world’s largest air cargo carrier, Emirates SkyCargo, in its increased focus on high-yield pharma traffic.

Of course in true Emirates-style, where everything is big, the carrier’s latest facility at Dubai International Airport (DXB) joins its facilities at its freighter hub at Dubai World Central (DWB) in becoming GDP-certified.

The carrier is anticipating that the certification and new facilities will boost its market share in the pharma realm and being positioned where it is in the Middle East, between Europe and Asia and of course right next door to the upcoming pharma-producing country of India, it is surely going to prove that sentiment correct.

Also on the pharma front, but in a more indirect way, our profile this issue focuses on Swiss WorldCargo which has expanded its capacity into Asia through its fleet replacement of A340s with B777-300ERs. This of course has the added benefit for the cargo division of an extra 10 tonnes or so, of additional belly capacity. This of course is particularly useful on its Zurich-Singapore route as both represent significant pharma hubs.

This issue has been a bit of tight squeeze as it came mid-way through our annual Payload Asia Conference and Awards 2016. The event made its debut in Hong Kong this year and all reports have it pegged as a success. We will devote a special issue to both the conference – which saw a wide range of extensive industry expertise and experience participating in six roundtables over the course of two days – and gala awards dinner where 23 awards categories honoured the very best in the industry, in the next (November) issue of Payload Asia.

Stay tuned and see you next month!