Updates on, aviation, trade, and maritime from UAE and Iraq

AVIATION-

Emirates bolsters its ties in Southeast Asia: Emirates SkyCargo inked an MoU with AirAsia’s exclusive cargo partner Teleport to advance trade and e-commerce flows from Southeast Asia to the wider world via Dubai, according to a statement. Under the agreement, the pair will boost cargo interline options and block space. The partnership will expand Skycargo’s access to over 100 destinations in the Southeast Asian region within AirAsia’s roster.

The partnership will help boost Southeast Asia’s air cargo volumes from 11% to 20% by 2029, according to the statement. Southeast Asia exported nearly 2.5 mn tons of goods via air cargo in 2024 — with flows directed towards the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

About Teleport: The firm is working on transforming AirAsia’s bellyhold capacity into a single air logistics network in Southeast Asia, which includes Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia X Berhad, Indonesia AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X and AirAsia Cambodia.

OVER IN EUROPE- Emirates’s SkyCargo awarded SATS subsidiary Worldwide Flight Services a five-year cargo handling contract for its operations at Frankfurt Airport, according to a statement. Emirates will offer a weekly cargo capacity of over 1.4k tonnes at Frankfurt Airport — positioning it as one of the airline's busiest cargo hubs in Europe.

TRADE-

Iran to process, re-export Iraqi gas: The Iraqi government will ship natural gas to Iran for processing and re-export back into Iraq in a bid to meet local energy needs, per an agreement signed with Tehran, Asharq Business reports. Iraq will dispatch natural gas flared at southern oil wells run by the MissanOil Company and then receive the gas back from Iran. The agreement could see up to 100 mn cubic ft per day re-exported to Iraq for local consumption.

Iraq’s power shortage: The US abrogated a waiver allowing Iraq to import Iranian electricity early last month, which worsened the nation’s lackluster power output. Iraq produces 27 GW — which sometimes drops to 17 GW — whereas the country needs 40 GW to keep the lights on throughout the day, Asharq Business reported at the time.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

AD Ports has debuted its first ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation at Khalifa Port, according to a statement. The operation featured the transfer of LNG fuel from marine fuels provider Monjasa’s LNG bunker — Green Zeebrugge — to Italian shipping firm MSC’s container vessel — MSC Thais — which is berthed at Abu Dhabi Terminals. The operations are part of AD Ports and Monjasa cooperation to provide shipowners with dependable and streamlined access to a diversified fuel mix in line with their decarbonization objectives. The pair is also looking to further expand LNG bunkering services across AD Ports’ local commercial ports, including cruise vessels at Zayed Port.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

• Iraqi Airways resumes A330: Iraqi Airways has completed heavy maintenance work on the Airbus A330 ahead of the 2025 Hajj season. (Statement)