Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has added Liege, Belgium (LGG) to its freighter network. This is the airline’s first new freighter destination of 2026, with significant expansion planned over the next 12 months.
Perfectly located at the heart of the Amsterdam-Paris-Frankfurt production ‘golden triangle’, and with excellent road connectivity, Liege Airport is one of the world’s fastest-growing cargo hubs, recording a 14% rise in cargo volumes in 2025. In recent years, Emirates SkyCargo has served Liege Airport with ad hoc freighters, shipping specialised products such as fresh-cut flowers and e-Commerce packages, as well as dedicated charters for horses travelling to global competitions. Following the sustained demand, the airline will now deploy five weekly freighters, boosting available cargo capacity by 500 tonnes each week to ensure goods move quickly, reliably and efficiently.
Of the five weekly freighters, three will connect Liege with Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to transport critical, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals via a seamless and effective cool chain. The other two freighters will originate in Hong Kong and carry e-Commerce shipments to and through Liege.
Khawla Abdulla, Vice President of Cargo Commercial for Europe, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “Adding Liege as a fixture to our freighter network is a strategic step that enhances our European footprint and unlocks more connectivity for our global customers. In 2025, we moved more than 15,000 tonnes of cargo from Belgium, across freighters and bellyhold capacity on our double daily passenger flights to Brussels, and we anticipate significant growth with the deployment of five weekly freighters. Liege Airport’s freighter-first operations, world-class infrastructure and well-connected logistics ecosystem enable us to better serve Belgium and its neighbouring countries and deliver consistently high service levels for our customers.”
Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Liege Airport said, “We are honoured that Emirates Sky Cargo has added Liege Airport to its global freighter network. The new scheduled services are linking Liege with other major global airports incl. the Emirates Sky Cargo Dubai-hub. This development clearly shows the fast-increasing importance of Liege Airport for the European air cargo industry and is further strengthening our position as the biggest European freighter hub, with a strong focus on the verticals pharma, fresh, live animal and express. We are looking forward to a close and lasting cooperation with Emirates Sky Cargo and providing a full, flexible home for its Boeing 777Fs.”
Europe remains one of the most important and busiest regions for Emirates SkyCargo, served by 38 freighters and 538 passenger flights every week. The airline continues to grow this expansive coverage, with the recent announcement of passenger operations to Helsinki, Finland, due to start in October 2026. With the delivery of up to 10 new Boeing 777Fs by December 2026, as well as the ongoing delivery of its passenger aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo is set to grow its network and serve more destinations with its world-class product and service.
