His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group officially opens Emirates SkyCargo's new terminal, Emirates SkyCentral at Dubai South, Tuesday November 10.
     Pictured left to right— Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo; His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (back row); His Highness Sheikh Ahmed; Thierry Antinori, Emirates Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer; and His Excellency Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs (back right).

Dubai Exclusive—Nothing was about to stop Emirates SkyCargo Divisional Senior Vice President Nabil Sultan as he hit the road on Tuesday, November 10, and moved swiftly down the long wide super highway between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) for the launch of Emirates SkyCargo’s new freighter home, Emirates SkyCentral.

     Located in Dubai South (formerly Dubai World Central), the official ribbon cutting and opening of SkyCargo Services featured His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
     Also on hand for the big reveal was Emirates Group Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori, as a grand party saw local dignitaries and others drop by with well-wishes before returning to the Emirates Chalet at the air show.
     As Sheikh Maktoum cut the ribbon amid traditional good will speeches and gifts, Nabil was jubilant.
     “The opening of Emirates SkyCentral at Dubai South is an important milestone for us,” Nabil said.
     “As home to our 15 freighters, SkyCentral is just beginning at 2.5 million tons annually and can be expanded to achieve our vision of 12 million tons per year by 2050.”
     “Today, Emirates SkyCargo is established across all its operating areas as the world’s leading cargo carrier,” Nabil Sultan added.
     Vice President of Logistics at Dubai South Mohsen Ahmad (right) couldn’t agree more:
     “Dubai South begins an important new chapter toward establishing Dubai’s excellence as a logistics hub,” Mr. Ahmad said.

A Team Effort

     “It is not about personalities; we all do our job and the Emirates SkyCargo Team is superb. Our mission is to build upon success and focus all our energies towards the continued success of Emirates SkyCargo.”
     SkyCargo Divisional Senior Vice President Nabil Sultan is never short on superlatives when talking about the part of Dubai-based Emirates Airline that has been his baby. He has served as SkyCargo’s top executive for the past two and a half years.
     “I would also like to recognize our various teams, along with many of our partners and stakeholders, that have been working very hard over the past 18 months to integrate operations since we moved our freighter operations to DWC in May 2014.
     “We have proven our readiness and ability to deliver and even exceed expectations in every aspect of the facility, as the movement of cargo between the DWC and Dubai International has become a smooth transition enabling us to deliver as promised.”

Up and coming generation with culture for cargo in UAE . . . Budoor Al Mazmi (left) turned a pioneering place in the air cargo business into a posting as top cargo executive at SkyCargo for the entire UAE. Mohamed Hassan, flydubai VP Cargo (right) reports, “With increased flights from DWC, air cargo boarded on flydubai represents about 3% of the throughput of our carrier but about 30% of the annual profit.”

SVP Cargo Emirates Freighters Hiran Perera (right) was flanked by VP Hub Operations Sunimal Fernando. “Dubai South" is a spectacular addition to the world supply chain, enabling ease of movement for all types of cargo, including both freighter main deck capacities and also below deck belly-cargo that continues to arrive and depart in growing numbers from the new facilities.

With plans to go to 12 million tons by 2050 and lots of room to grow, Senior Vice President, Cargo Operations Worldwide Henrik Ambak delivered a knockout presentation of the big, wide-shouldered SkyCenter cargo facility at Dubai South. It was all high tech, from the tracking systems to the rows of reefer madness to an acceptance door with cool chain temps maintained right to the ramp to several dozen large cargo hauling rigs connecting this giant "home of the freighters" facility to DXB. Henrik made it look easy at one of the most advanced air cargo facilities in the world.

A Party Lull

     For an airline that is given to throwing extravagant launch and service start-up parties, there has been a noticeable lull since Emirates SkyCargo held its last cargo press gala.
     But that may just be Nabil. He is confident, if not understated.
     In some respects, his behavior is reminiscent of the American pioneer frontiersman Davy Crockett, whose motto was:
     “Be Sure You’re Right And Then Go Ahead.”
     SkyCargo, it turns out, migrated its entire freighter operation to DWC Al Maktoum International on May 1, 2014.
     So for the past year and a half it has been full force ahead, developing the next world hub for an air cargo operation that some estimate may deliver up to 35 percent of the Emirates Airline total throughput. Everything, it seems, moves up from there.

Phase Two Underway

     Preceding the cargo press gag by almost two full weeks, word came that DWC would commence preparations in 2016 for Emirates Airlines to move operations sometime during the next decade.
     Asked about construction, His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Dubai South, said:
     “We will do a lot of preparations by next year.”
     The passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Dubai South was launched in October 2013.
     To date only four airlines are operating schedules from the new airport.
     “People want to be here (Dubai International) because they can make connections and everyone is there,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
     “Now as capacity opportunities are becoming more difficult to satisfy, people will have to look at different airports,” he added.

The Sultan of SkyCargo

     Nabil may have been the new face of leadership at SkyCargo when he assumed command of one of the fastest growing airline freight businesses, but his appointment also signaled a step change in Emirates Airline leadership.
     From that point forward it became apparent that the culture for the airline is alive, well, and growing in UAE. Local talent is moving up the ranks at EK and rapidly making that journey.
     Born in Dubai and educated in Dubai and the United States, Nabil holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and Management Information Systems from the University of Portland, Oregon.
     So along with traditions learned from generations at home, Sultan also has a bit of an American sense of humor when he smiles and declares in mock exasperation:
     “Every day it rained in Portland after a life in the desert!”
     Nabil Sultan looks comfortable in his clothes and apparently is enjoying the ride of his life.
     That said, Mr. Sultan is bright and in touch. With hair slightly graying and eyes holding a straight and level gaze, he leaves no doubt when he says:
     “Now we will carry things further.”

Still The Paperwork Jungle

     “Assuming leadership, I was immediately aware and surprised at the overwhelming amount of paper it takes to move air cargo.
     “Especially coming out of the passenger end of the business, where the migration away from paper has been swift and complete in many aspects of that business.
     “No doub,t even though we have taken giant strides and in fact can be viewed as a best-case scenario toward creating a paper-free environment for air cargo, in 2015 the complexity of the industry can only be better served by streamlining processes, taking costs out, and adding value for the customer.
     “But much can be realized by making every effort in every aspect of the logistics supply chain toward a paperless environment.
     “Of course, I learned at several smaller stations coming up in this business that when it comes to change and dealing with government agencies and bureaucracy, we still have a long way to go.
     “My take is that we have to work even harder at this point to change the cargo mindset,” Nabil Sultan said.

Love An Airline

     “In many ways,” Mr. Sultan says, “no matter how you approach it, Emirates is an inspiring airline.
     “We offer the trading community a very efficient global resource that constantly translates into direct value to the customer.”
Geoffrey