Emirates SkyCargo has marked a major milestone in its fleet expansion by becoming the world’s first airline cargo operator to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft into commercial service, strengthening its capacity to meet growing global air cargo demand.
The aircraft, registered A6-EBK, entered service with its inaugural commercial flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying more than 100 tonnes of cargo. The addition forms part of Emirates SkyCargo’s broader strategy to expand its freighter fleet and enhance operational flexibility as global demand for cargo capacity continues to rise.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF offers a payload capacity of 100 tonnes and a cargo volume of 811 cubic metres, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter. With 47 pallet positions, the aircraft accommodates 10 more pallet positions than the standard Boeing 777-F, making it particularly suited for high-volume shipments such as e-commerce goods, which now account for around 20 per cent of global air cargo volumes.
Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, said the introduction of the converted aircraft marks another step in the airline’s strategy to optimise its fleet by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into freighters capable of meeting increasing global demand for rapid cargo transportation.
He noted that the converted aircraft, alongside the airline’s growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, has enabled Emirates SkyCargo to expand its dedicated freighter network from just over 40 destinations earlier this year to 62 destinations, providing customers with greater cargo capacity, flexibility and connectivity through its Dubai hub.
The aircraft is the sixth freighter to join the Emirates SkyCargo fleet since March 2026, following the delivery of five Boeing 777-F production freighters. The airline plans to add five more Boeing 777-F aircraft and another converted Boeing 777-300ERSF before the end of 2026, with three additional converted freighters scheduled for delivery in 2027.
The fleet expansion forms part of Emirates SkyCargo’s long-term strategy to strengthen global trade links, increase connectivity to key manufacturing centres and support businesses across its network spanning six continents.
