Not an April Fool's Day joke: Emirates unveils groundbreaking courier service
The UAE airline promises to treat packages like passengers
DUBAI: Backed by almost four decades’ experience in keeping goods and people moving all over the world, Emirates has launched Emirates Courier Express, an end-to-end delivery solution that is set to redefine the express delivery experience.
This innovative service promises to treat packages with the same care and urgency as airline passengers, transforming the logistics landscape.
With a commitment to speed, reliability, and flexibility, Emirates Courier Express is poised to meet the diverse transportation needs of businesses, both large and small.
Emirates Courier Express
To ensure Emirates Courier Express effectively addresses the industry's myriad challenges, Emirates collaborated closely with a diverse range of global customers during the product's pilot phase. Over the past year, the service has successfully transported thousands of packages from locations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa, and the UK, achieving an impressive average delivery time of less than 48 hours. With the launch of Emirates Courier Express, the airline is now ready to cater to businesses seeking efficient and effective delivery solutions.
Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, highlighted the significance of this launch: “Emirates Courier Express is an evolution in how we move goods across the globe, at speed and at scale. Building on our world-class and well-established infrastructure, and reimagining traditional logistics processes where necessary, this innovative solution does not just meet the Emirates Gold Standard of reliability and excellence but sets a new benchmark for what’s possible. This is only the beginning of our vision to continuously innovate and lead the charge in the express delivery sector.”
Direct connectivity
Traditionally, cross-border delivery operates on a global hub-and-spoke model, resulting in packages making multiple stops before reaching their final destination. Emirates Courier Express breaks this mould. Just as passengers travel directly from their point of origin to their final destination, packages will benefit from the same streamlined approach. Leveraging Emirates’ extensive global network and high flight frequencies, this direct connectivity significantly reduces transit times and handling processes, offering customers a competitive edge in delivering their goods efficiently.
Emirates Courier Express presents multiple service levels, from next-day urgent delivery to a two-day Premium service. The airline is also committed to introducing a pipeline of innovative new products to further enhance the delivery experience.
At launch, Emirates Courier Express is operational in seven markets, with plans for rapid expansion. “Wherever Emirates flies, Emirates Courier Express can deliver,” a spokesperson confirmed, highlighting the service's unlimited potential for network growth.
Tailored solutions
Harnessing the fleet of the world’s largest international airline, Emirates Courier Express has access to over 250 wide-body passenger and freighter aircraft, ensuring a robust and efficient delivery network. Complemented by a reliable and integrated cross-border partner network to manage customs clearance and first- and last-mile transportation, the solution is designed to deliver door-to-door with precision and reliability.
This seamless integration into the existing airline infrastructure allows Emirates Courier Express to accommodate volume fluctuations due to seasonal demand, ensuring cost stability. This empowers customers to plan and budget their shipping needs with confidence. Additionally, the service provides bespoke and tailored solutions for various sectors, whether it involves transporting fashion items, mobile devices, or critical medical equipment.
Emirates Courier Express is also entirely digital, featuring a purpose-built tech platform that integrates directly into customer software. Advanced tracking systems and real-time updates ensure a seamless shipping experience, offering complete efficiency and transparency throughout the delivery process.
Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation at Emirates SkyCargo, remarked, “Emirates Courier Express is the result of challenging the status quo. Along with the industry, we watched the increasing volumes of cross-border shipping and challenged ourselves to find a better way to transport these goods faster and more efficiently. The new product launch reflects our ongoing commitment to push the boundaries to introduce innovations which drive real impact and ensure our customers always have access to the fastest, most reliable, and cost-effective solutions available.”