Fifteen years of Cargolux results reveal air cargo’s uneven new era
Here at The Loadstar, we’ve been watching Cargolux for well over a decade. It has had its ups and downs – from financial stress ...
Photo: © Ajdibilio
By Alex Lennane
Sources in the Middle East have reported that Nabil Sultan, formerly of Emirates SkyCargo and currently EVP passenger sales and country management, is to take on a new senior leadership role within the group, following the release of its 2025/6 financial results last week.
Mr Sultan led Emirates SkyCargo for 10 years, after replacing Ram Menem, before taking on the passenger role in 2024 – one well-placed source commented: “It’s a fantastic choice.
“Nabil Sultan is taking over as CEO of dnata.”
Dnata has confirmed the appointment with The Loadstar, noting Mr Sultan will start on June 15. The news emerged as Emirates Group filed its full-year results.
Mr Sultan will take over at a pivotal moment for the Emirates group’s cargo and logistics operations, as regional conflict, shifting trade patterns, and aggressive infrastructure expansion reshape the role of Gulf aviation.
The appointment comes after a year in which cargo and airport operations emerged as key growth drivers for Emirates Group, with dnata handling 3.2m tonnes of freight globally, and Emirates SkyCargo contributing AED16.2bn ($4.4bn) to airline revenues.
The group’s full-year report, out last week, also revealed more about the carrier’s operations during an “extremely challenging March”, when military activity involving Iran, Israel, and the US disrupted Gulf airspace, forcing airlines and logistics operators across the region to rapidly reconfigure operations.
The group said Emirates and dnata had “quickly mobilised” after the outbreak of conflict on 28 February, restoring operations via safe air corridors, while prioritising cargo flows into and through the UAE.
By the end of March, Emirates had restored connectivity to 122 destinations in 65 countries and ramped up cargo operations to maintain the movement of essential goods.
The report said the Emirates fleet of 13 B777 freighters had “never been busier”, while the carrier temporarily reassigned 14 passenger aircraft to cargo-only operations.
April saw it field 15% more freighter capacity than in March, with new destinations appearing as the carrier looked to be flexible in the face of significant challenges.
The airline also established new trucking routes and multimodal corridors across the UAE and wider region to keep supply chains moving during the disruption.
The group acknowledged it was “too early to tally the impact of the war” on its balance sheet, warning that markets remained volatile amid concerns over fuel supply, travel advisories and reduced intercontinental capacity through Gulf hubs.
Emirates SkyCargo also continued expanding beyond traditional air freight, launching Emirates Courier Express, a door-to-door cross-border delivery product aimed at the fast-growing ecommerce market.
The cargo division additionally introduced dedicated aerospace and engineering logistics products, expanded its freighter network to 44 destinations, and took delivery of five new 777Fs during the year.
Meanwhile, dnata, under Steve Allen – who has headed the company for more than five years – has continued to expand aggressively internationally, with 77% of revenue now generated outside the UAE. The company also accelerated investment in cargo infrastructure, automation, and logistics technology.
Among dnata’s biggest recent investments was the opening of its highly automated Cargo City Amsterdam facility at Schiphol, capable of processing more than 600,000 tonnes a year, although the transition to the new terminal did trigger disruption and congestion as the company grappled with integrating multiple new automated systems.
In Italy, dnata committed more than €25m to a new cargo facility at Milan Malpensa, and €20m in new ground support equipment in Rome.
The company also expanded its logistics footprint through the acquisition of Australia-based Wymap Group, adding domestic trucking and freight capabilities across Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, automation is increasingly central to dnata’s strategy. During the year it deployed autonomous electric baggage tractors at Dubai World Central, launched a smart cargo screening hub at DXB in partnership with Dubai Police, and expanded its use of AI-driven operational planning systems.
Another source said the appointment of Mr Sultan was “a smart move” by the group.
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