Business Bureau, Gulf Today

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of the Etihad Aviation Group, has announced its freighter schedule for the IATA summer season, boosting capacity to its top freighter gateways. The network will also be expanded to capacity-constrained markets that are wrestling with decreased passenger operations or temporary travel bans in light of the public health emergency caused by the novel Coronavirus (COVID 19), offering a strategic cargo lifeline and supporting the continuity of the global trade ecosystem.

Running March 29 to October 28, Etihad Cargo’s summer schedule boasts weekly freighter flights added to European cities including Amsterdam, Milan and Paris, as well as increased freighter frequencies across major Asian and African cargo gateways.

In Asia, the seasonal plan doubles Etihad Cargo’s Hong Kong services to four flights per week, while Hanoi gains a third-weekly service and Singapore a second weekly flight. These additions complete the currently operated seasonal winter schedule across China, India and Bangladesh.

In Europe, with two extra weekly freighter flights Amsterdam goes to five times weekly service, Milan moves to a twice-weekly turnaround freighter service, while Etihad Cargo will launch new freighter connections linking Abu Dhabi with Paris. The new freighter flights will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport for Paris Charles De Gaulle on Thursdays and Saturdays. The same day return services will add 200 tonnes of incremental weekly freight capacity between the UAE and the French capital. These services will be complemented by the increase in services into Johannesburg and Nairobi, to twice weekly.

North America remains a key market with Etihad Cargo’s twice-weekly freighter service to Rickenbacker in the United States, with stopovers on the inbound and outbound sectors offering key capacity between Europe and North America.

Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Managing Director Cargo and Logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “With widespread commercial flight restrictions in numerous international markets, the air cargo environment is evolving daily. After consulting closely with local and international authorities, our optimised summer freighter schedule is designed to significantly boost capacity and service customers in key cargo markets.”

“Our sincerest thanks to our crew and staff that continue to make these operations possible. The safety of our pilots, loadmasters and ground staff is our number one priority. During these times, additional stringent measures in line with advisories from the UAE Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi Department of Health, the UAE GCAA and WHO have been implemented, to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our team and main the highest standards of hygiene throughout the operations,” Shadid added.

Etihad Cargo, since its establishment in 2004, has grown rapidly to become one of the leading air cargo carriers in the world, offering customers a range of cargo products and services to five major continents. Our hub in Abu Dhabi is strategically located at the centre of the worlds’ busiest trade lanes, providing an integral link between Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and Africa.

With a modern fleet of 102 passenger aircraft including Boeing 787, 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft serving 83 destinations across the world, Etihad Cargo also operates a fleet of five Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, providing the perfect complement to the passenger bellyhold cargo capacity, as well as an extensive road feeder trucking network linking major air gateways in North America, Europe, GCC, Asia and Australia. Through our market leading online booking portal customers can instantly book their cargo and follow the status of their shipments using our advanced track and trace capability.

In addition to general cargo, Etihad Cargo offers a wide range of specialty products including live animals, dangerous good, valuables and vulnerables, personal effects, as well as our market leading cold chain products (the latter holding IATA’s stringent Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators certifications for both Pharmaceutical Logistics as well as Perishables Logistics).

Etihad Cargo remained committed to its transformation strategy in 2019 despite challenging market headwinds. Total cargo handled stood at 635,000 tonnes (2018: 682,100 tonnes), with total revenues of $0.70 billion (2018: $0.83 billion).

This is mostly attributable to the full-year effect of belly-hold and freighter capacity rationalisation undertaken in the fourth quarter of 2018, combined with adverse market conditions that resulted in yields dropping by 7.8 per cent.

Tony Douglas, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, EAG, said, “Operating costs were reduced significantly last year and both yields and load factors were increased despite passenger revenues being down due to network optimisation. An improvement to the cost base significantly offset the cost pressures faced by the business, giving us the headroom to invest in the guest experience, technology and innovation, and our major sustainability initiatives.”