Emirates has introduced Emirates Courier Express, an end-to-end delivery service designed to enhance the express delivery experience, drawing on the carrier's nearly four decades of experience in global logistics.

To address industry challenges, Emirates said in the announcement that it collaborated with global customers to pilot and refine Emirates Courier Express, aiming to optimize speed, reliability, and flexibility before its market launch.

Over the last year, Emirates Courier Express transported several thousands of packages from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa, and the UK.

The average delivery time is under 48 hours. Currently, Emirates Courier Express is open for business, catering to businesses. 

"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," said Badr Abbas, divisional senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo.

"This is only the beginning of our vision to continuously innovate and lead the charge in the express delivery sector," he added.

Emirates noted that traditionally, cross-border delivery operates through a global hub-and-spoke model, where a package makes several stops before reaching its final destination.

Emirates stated that its newly launched courier express service has shattered traditional industry norms.

"Just like passengers, packages will travel from origin to destination directly, leveraging the breadth of Emirates' vast global network and near-unparalleled flight frequencies," the announcement said.

It noted that this approach significantly reduces time in transit, reduces package handling, and offers Emirates Courier Express customers a competitive edge in getting their goods to end users.

"Direct connectivity is matched with different service levels, ranging from next-day urgent delivery to a two-day Premium service, along with a pipeline of innovative new products," said Emirates, whose cargo arm Emirates SkyCargo is among the largest international cargo airlines.

At launch, Emirates Courier Express will operate in seven markets, with plans to expand further. The service is available wherever Emirates flies, offering broad potential for network growth. Additional market expansion is already underway.

Harnessing the fleet of the world's largest international airline, Emirates Courier Express has access to over 250 widebody passenger and freighter aircraft to move packages worldwide.

It is also complemented by a trusted, reliable, and integrated cross-border network of partners to manage customs clearance and first—and last-mile transportation.

Emirates said the solution delivers door-to-door.

"This integration into the airline's existing infrastructure allows Emirates Courier Express to handle volume fluctuations from seasonal spikes while maintaining cost stability, ultimately empowering customers to plan and budget with confidence," the carrier said.

The integration allows Emirates Courier Express to offer customized solutions for various shipments, from fashion and electronics to critical medical equipment.

A specialized team manages niche segment needs, supported by the airline’s freight and logistics infrastructure. This includes cool chain capacity, enabling the transportation of sensitive or specialized items from the outset.

Emirates Courier Express operates entirely on a digital platform designed to integrate directly with customer software while supporting customized shipping solutions. The service includes advanced tracking systems, real-time updates, and streamlined integration to ensure efficiency, reliability, and transparency from collection to delivery worldwide.

Dennis Lister, senior vice president of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo said, "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," Lister said.