Emirates disclosed net profits of Lm81.4 million for the first six months of its financial year from April 1 to September 30.
Based on unaudited financial figures, these are Emirate's best results for any six-month period, with a 41% increase over last year.
Emirates, which flies between Malta and Dubai three times a week, is the only current carrier consistently operating wide-bodied aircraft A330-200 to carry substantial loads on a scheduled basis to Malta.
Operating revenue for the Dubai-based airline of $2.2 billion for the half year represented a strong growth of 42%, compared to the revenue of $1.6 billion during the same period last year, while its seat factor rose to 73.3% and the passenger rate increased by 25.5% to 6.1 million, compared to the 4.8 million for the first half of last year.
During a breakfast meeting at the Corinthia Palace Hotel on Thursday, Emirates district manager Paul Fleri Soler gave an overview of Emirates SkyCargo, which is currently offering a weekly capacity of over 45 tonnes of cargo between Malta and Dubai and is represented by Cassar & Cooper Ltd.
"Emirates SkyCargo has quickly built a reputation in the aviation industry for leading the cargo sector in innovation, flexibility and service even in Malta," he said. "Our mission is to deliver the highest standards of product quality to support business logistics within the air transportation industry and to achieve complete customer satisfaction."
Mr Fleri Solar explained that in the first six months of the financial year 2004-2005 Emirates SkyCargo's revenue grew by 42%, with cargo tonnage increasing by 27% to 401,500 tonnes, compared to the 315,553 tonnes for the same period last year.
Last month it increased its fleet with an additional freighter bringing the figure to six aircraft, all Boeing 747s, to cater for the increasing demand from its market worldwide. Its cargo-only destinations include Budapest, Liege, Gothenburg, Amsterdam, Bangalore, Dalian and Taipei.
Covering 77 destinations in 54 countries on five continents, Emirates SkyCargo offers fast transit times, especially to eastbound destinations including the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and the Far East. Mr Fleri Soler said that the airline will be extending its network to the Seychelles, Seoul, Hamburg and Geneva, taking the Emirates network up to 81 destinations by the end of next year.
Cassar & Cooper cargo manager Mario Debono said Malta has seen a steady increase in tonnage since Emirates began its operations to Malta in 1998. "Without doubt customers agree that Emirates SkyCargo is a first class carrier," he said.
He explained that shipments transported by the air division from Malta include semiconductors, tuna fish, poultry, vaccines, CCTV equipment, printed matter and heavy drilling equipment. Emirates SkyCargo met the Maltese demand for the shipment of textiles, electrical components, fresh vegetables and fresh fish.
In 2004 Emirates SkyCargo was awarded the Air Cargo Carrier of the Year award by IFW; Best Cargo Carrier - Middle East by Cargo News Asia; Best Cargo Airline to the Indian Subcontinent by Air Cargo New; and the Logistics Service Provider Award 2003 from STMicroelectronics.
Emirates, one of the fastest growing, most profitable airlines in the world, operates to 77 destinations in 54 countries and has a fleet of 71 Boeing and Airbus jets.