Etihad Cargo Among The World’s Top 10 Performing Global Air Cargo Operators

Etihad Cargo, part of Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways, has entered the world’s top 10 performing global air cargo operators, based on monthly WorldACD carrier rankings, following a rise in the cargo operator’s throughput for the months of April and May.

Etihad Cargo moved 48,869 tonnes of cargo around the globe in May, a 31 per cent increase from the same period last year, and a nine per cent increase from April, when 44,730 tonnes were moved.

The increase in figures was driven by many factors, including more bellyhold capacity to and from New York, Munich and Chengdu, enhanced scheduling, a robust charter business, better capacity utilisation on routes to India, the Netherlands, and the US, and optimised connections, said Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer, Etihad.

“Moving onto the list of world’s top 10 is a great achievement and at the end of this month we will take delivery of a fourth Airbus A330-200 freighter and, in the second half of 2014, have access to more bellyhold capability when 10 passenger aircraft are added to the fleet, routes to five new passenger destinations are launched, and frequencies to existing points are increased,” he added.

Etihad Cargo began offering bellyhold freight capability on Etihad Airways’ new daily service to Los Angeles and Zurich in the beginning of June. Also, in May, a new weekly maindeck freighter service linking Abu Dhabi and Entebbe was added. Freighter services to Bangalore, Beijing, and Almaty also went up to three times a week.

Etihad acquired the Abu Dhabi Cargo Company in May 2013, along with Abu Dhabi Airport Services and Abu Dhabi In-flight Catering, in order to raise revenue opportunities and save costs.

Its freighters include three Boeing B777F, three Airbus A330-200F, three Boeing 747 planes and an Airbus A330-200F.