Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has deepened its collaboration with China’s SF Airlines. The two companies have agreed to increase the frequency of flights between their major hubs – Abu Dhabi and Ezhou.
Increased flights between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou
Starting July 15th, 2024, Etihad Cargo will operate two freighter services per week between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou, connecting China to Etihad’s global network through its Abu Dhabi hub. Additionally, SF Airlines will operate an extra freighter from Ezhou, bringing the total number of weekly flights between the two cities to five.
New Shenzhen-Abu Dhabi freighter service
The partnership will also introduce a new weekly freighter service between Shenzhen and Abu Dhabi, adding a fifth destination in China to Etihad Cargo’s network. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is China’s third-largest cargo airport and has been ranked among the top 20 cargo airports globally since 2021.
Expanded cargo capacity
The increased flight frequency between Ezhou and Abu Dhabi, coupled with the new Shenzhen-Abu Dhabi service, will provide an additional capacity of over 200 tonnes per week. This will bring the total weekly capacity from this partnership to 630 tonnes.
Read more: UAE’s Etihad Cargo expands European footprint with new freighter route to Madrid
Stanislas Brun, vice president cargo at Etihad Cargo, commented, “By expanding our strategic partnership with SF Airlines, Etihad Cargo’s partners and customers will have greater access to key markets in China, the UAE, and destinations across Etihad’s global network. This ongoing collaboration will contribute to the broader economic and strategic objectives of both the UAE and China.”
Robert Zhang, commercial director of SF Airlines, expressed excitement about the partnership’s growth, stating, “We are excited to announce that the cooperated routes between Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines will expand to six flights per week starting from July, as our two companies celebrate the one-year anniversary of our partnership.”
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