Emirates SkyCargo signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Humanitarian City (IHC) to become the first-resort cargo carrier for IHC’s crisis relief operations.

The organizations will work together to develop the logistics as well as share experiences to improve transportation and specialized cargo practices for relief efforts, according to the MoU announced on September 23, 2020. The International Humanitarian City, a global hub for humanitarian emergency response, has also designated the Emirates as the primary freighter service to carry aid materials in case of a crisis.

The alliance was arguably a long time in the making since both SkyCargo and IHC are based in Dubai and have worked together on various occasions in the past.

“Over the years, Emirates SkyCargo has operated a number of flights and transported relief cargo on behalf of International Humanitarian City in response to humanitarian disasters and crises around the world, including most recently in the aftermath of the explosions at Beirut,” Emirates SkyCargo divisional senior vice president Nabil Sultan said in a statement.

Sultan also said that the two organizations would work to develop a platform to enhance and speed up the response for aid delivery.

Emirates SkyCargo carried 12 billion cargo tonne kilometers in 2019 and was the fourth-largest air freighter service behind FedEx, Qatar Airways Cargo and UPS, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).