Etihad Cargo plans to provide additional capacity to key destinations in the summer months across Asia, Africa and Europe.
From July, Etihad Cargo – the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group – will continue to operate its Boeing 777 freighter network with flights across Chicago, Dhaka, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Kenya, Milan, Riyadh, Saigon and Shanghai.
Worldwide expansion
The carrier will also provide additional passenger flights on its Boeing 787 and Airbus 350 with 35 direct flights to London Heathrow, seven direct flights to Bangkok and five flights to Bangkok via Phuket. Etihad will offer daily flights to Dublin, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, more weekly flights to Barcelona, Brussels, Johannesburg, Madrid, Tokyo and Vienna have been added to the carrier’s summer schedule.
“Etihad is operating additional flights during the busy summer period, which will introduce additional belly capacity across key routes for Etihad Cargo’s customers,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President, Global Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.
Seasonal routes
More passenger flights will also be offered from mid-June, with seasonal routes to Greece, France, Spain and Tanzania being introduced to the network.
“Cargo transported during the season will benefit from Etihad Cargo’s extensive road feeder service across the US, Europe and Asia,” added Drew.
Passive temperature-controlled solution
Meanwhile, Etihad Cargo has also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with B Medical Systems. The MOU, which was announced during the BIO International Convention, held in San Diego, USA, from June 13-16, will see Etihad Cargo partner with B Medical Systems to develop and launch an airline-specific passive temperature-controlled solution for the transportation of life-saving drugs, vaccines and high-value pharmaceuticals.
Etihad Cargo will collaborate with the Luxembourg-based manufacturer and global distributor of medical refrigeration devices to develop more sustainable temperature-controlled container units that work utilising passive cooling technology.
The units will retain temperatures from -80 to 25 degrees Celsius for up to five days without requiring an external power source, with load capabilities ranging from two to 1,500 litres.
Reduced carbon emissions
Through the reduction in power needed to maintain the temperature for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments, these units will significantly reduce carbon emissions.
“Sustainability has been and continues to be a priority for Etihad Cargo,” Drew continued. “While the aviation sector only accounts for 4 per cent of global carbon emission today, if the sector continues to grow at its current pace, it could account for up to 25 per cent of emissions by 2050. This is why it is so important for the sector to invest in more sustainable solutions for its customers. Partnering with B Medical Systems is the latest step by Etihad Cargo to achieve its sustainability targets.
“By replacing legacy active cold chain air transportation containers with aviation-specific units that consume less energy, Etihad Cargo is future-proofing the transportation of pharmaceuticals, providing a better solution for Etihad Cargo’s customers, the aviation industry and the environment.”
