What if parcels travelled with the same care, speed, and precision as airline passengers? That’s the bold premise behind Emirates Courier Express, the new logistics venture launched by Emirates SkyCargo. In this breakout session, Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation at Emirates Courier Express, sat down with early adopters Tom Killeen (COO, THG) and Nawfel Toumi (Director of Fulfilment and Middle East GM, Childrensalon) to share how this first-of-its-kind logistics model is setting a new benchmark in express delivery.

From Passenger Jets to Parcel Jets

With a fleet of over 250 aircraft reaching 140+ global cities, Emirates saw a unique opportunity: use existing aviation infrastructure to deliver parcels as fast — and reliably — as passengers. The result? A premium door-to-door solution leveraging real-time API integration, zero-paper customs, and same-day cross-border fulfilment.

The initiative debuted with support from THG and Childrensalon, two brands known for their obsessive focus on customer experience.

Customer-First Tech in Action

The solution isn’t just about speed — it's about predictive control and full transparency. Emirates has implemented:

• Pre-clearance of goods in-flight via business-to-government digital triggers

• Multi-airport resilience — with rerouting across UK hubs when disruption hits

• Control tower-style parcel visibility — with proactive retailer notifications if delays arise

• API-based paperless integration with retailer fulfilment systems

As Tom Killeen shared, “I get 250 reports before 6AM. But Emirates never shows up in the exceptions list — it just works.”

Delivering Luxury, On Brand

For Childrensalon, known for designer childrenswear, delivery isn’t just operational — it’s brand-critical. “Our customers receive premium packaging, on-time, with no surprises,” said Toumi. “Working with Emirates feels like delivering our parcels personally, hand-to-hand.”

The company now orchestrates their logistics backwards — planning for 1AM collections to ensure parcels arrive in the UAE within hours. The speed and precision allowed them to maintain brand promise in even the most premium market segments.

Scaling the Model: Global Flight Path Ahead

With six daily flights out of Heathrow and over 147 destinations covered, Emirates aims to scale quickly. “The infrastructure is already built,” said Lister, “We're simply layering parcels on top of a proven passenger operation.”

In fact, the model is so seamless that customers may never notice — which is exactly the point. The goal is for Emirates Courier Express to operate like a “VIP service in the background”, where every package receives the same care and attention as a first-class passenger.

Logistics for the Next Generation

THG is aligning its fulfilment ambitions with the Emirates model. With THG Fulfil born just two years ago, Killeen envisions it as a billion-pound business, scaling through tech and customer-first partnerships. “We're not here to be the biggest — just the most disruptive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Emirates is expanding its cargo-enabled courier solution to support new routes, including emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Conclusion: The Future Is Seamless

From automated sorting hubs to inflight customs clearance and proactive delivery comms, Emirates Courier Express is more than a logistics provider — it’s a redefinition of what’s possible in ecommerce delivery. As parcel volumes explode and customer expectations rise, Emirates is showing what it means to truly deliver at altitude.