Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of the Dubai-based airline Emirates, has been voted Best Airline 2008 by 240 German air cargo forwarders at the air cargo awards of Germany’s leading air cargo publication Logistik Inside and Garbe World Cargo Centre.

The publication had commissioned the market research institute TNS Emnid to conduct a representative study and analyse the performance of 50 leading cargo airlines in Germany. 
The airlines were rated on their quality of service, customer focus, and the price-performance ratio by their customers which included small shipping companies and multinational corporate logistics groups. The 240 freight forwarders surveyed are responsible for the vast majority of Germany’s multi-billion dollar air cargo industry.
Achieving 788 of  1,000 possible points, Emirates SkyCargo ranked first.
It is the second successive time Emirates SkyCargo has won the prestigious accolade, which is only awarded every two years. This year’s score was an improvement on the one achieved two years ago, evidence of Emirates’ commitment to quality service, the airline said in a release.
Peter Sedgley, Emirates senior vice president for cargo commercial operations, accepted the award on behalf of the carrier.
“We are happy to be recognised as top grade by our customers, especially in the current climate,” he said. “This is an impressive affirmation of our superior service, our professional handling, and our flexibility. This Air Cargo Award 2008 is wonderful motivation for the entire Emirates SkyCargo team.”
Reinhard Coldewe, Emirates cargo manager Germany, said: “The positive feedback of the, German freight forwarders is tailwind for our further development in Germany. The German cargo market is one of the most important in Europe and we are to expand our engagement. Apart from Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, and Hamburg we are eager to link Berlin and Stuttgart to our international route network.”
Claus-Dieter Wehr, managing director of Hamburg Airport, presented the award  to Sedgley.
Emirates 111-strong passenger fleet is one of the youngest in the world, with an average age of 67 months. In addition, Emirates operates a cargo fleet consisting of seven Boeing 747Fs (four Boeing 747-400Fs and three Boeing 747-400ERFs) as well as three Airbus A310Fs. The Cargo Mega Terminal at Dubai International Airport is one of the most modern and efficient facilities of its kind in the world. In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, Emirates SkyCargo handled a record 1.3 million tonnes. The turnover in the cargo division increased by 20 per cent to $1.8 billion in the same year.