Business & Money | Wednesday 25 March, 2015 12:23 pm |

Etihad Cargo, the cargo division of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been recognised as ‘Cargo Airline of the Year’ by leading industry magazine, Air Transport News (ATN), at a prestigious gala dinner awards ceremony in Geneva, on 21 March 2015.

The award, which is decided based on votes received from across the industry, combined with a verdict made by a jury of internationally renowned industry experts, is in recognition of the commitment made by Etihad Cargo to developing the global freight market through the opening of new routes, the introduction of innovative products, and its successful relationship with the international freight forwarding community.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said: “We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of our commitment to working closely with our partners across the industry, ensuring our customers have greater access to new routes and services that enhance the two-way flow of trade and commerce between key and the emerging markets across our global network.”

Etihad Cargo extended its reach in 2014 by providing customers with lowerdeck capacity on 10 new services that were launched during the year on its global passenger network.

This will be further extended with the launch of eight new passenger routes during 2015, bringing to 111 the total number of passenger and cargo destinations served directly from its hub in Abu Dhabi.

Additional lowerdeck cargo capacity was also provided on the passenger services of its partners as they expanded their networks from Europe. This includes airberlin’s new services from Berlin and Stuttgart to Etihad Cargo’s hub in Abu Dhabi, and on NIKI’s new service from Vienna.

It also includes the scheduled passenger services of its latest equity partner, Alitalia, from Milan and Venice to Abu Dhabi.


With a fleet of 10 dedicated cargo aircraft, Etihad Cargo also provides customers with maindeck capacity on its scheduled services to 13 freighter-only destinations that include: Bogotá, Chittagong, Djibouti, Dubai World Central, Eldoret, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Houston, Kabul, Miami, Quito, Sharjah and Viracopos.

It also operates a double-weekly service from Milan to Bogotá, Colombia, and from Bagotá to Amsterdam, following a partnership agreement signed with Avianca Cargo.

About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to 111 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 111 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 69 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and nine Airbus A380s.

Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, Alitalia, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia, and is in the process of formalising an equity investment in Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline. Etihad Airways, along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, also participate in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com