Emirates SkyCargo has reached a major milestone by becoming the first airline cargo carrier to place the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft into commercial service. The aircraft, registered A6-EBK, entered service on 30 June with its inaugural cargo flight from Hong Kong to Dubai, carrying more than 100 tonnes of freight.
A new addition to Emirates’ expanding cargo fleet
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF becomes the sixth new freighter to join Emirates SkyCargo since March 2026, following the delivery of five factory-built Boeing 777-F aircraft. Offering a payload capacity of 100 tonnes and 811 cubic metres of cargo volume, the converted aircraft provides around 25% more cargo volume than the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
With 47 pallet positions 10 more than the standard 777-F—the aircraft is particularly well suited to transporting high-volume cargo, including e-commerce shipments, which now account for approximately 20% of global air cargo tonnage.
Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, said the addition strengthens the airline’s operational flexibility by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into dedicated freighters to meet rising global cargo demand.
He added that, alongside the growing fleet of Boeing 777-F aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo has expanded its dedicated freighter network from just over 40 destinations earlier this year to 62 destinations, providing customers with greater connectivity through its Dubai hub.
Fleet expansion continues through 2027
Emirates SkyCargo’s expansion plans remain ambitious, with five additional Boeing 777-F freighters and another converted Boeing 777-300ERSF scheduled to join the fleet before the end of 2026.
The airline also plans to introduce three more converted Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft during 2027, bringing its passenger-to-freighter conversion programme to five aircraft in total.
The continued investment reflects Emirates SkyCargo‘s strategy to increase cargo capacity, strengthen links between major production centres and global markets, and support growing international trade across its network spanning six continents.
As demand for air freight continues to rise—particularly from the rapidly expanding e-commerce sector—the addition of converted freighters gives Emirates greater flexibility while maximising the value of its existing Boeing 777-300ER fleet.
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