Etihad: cargo volumes at record level in March

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has said it carried a record 31,700 tonnes of cargo in March, an increase of 20 percent on the same month in the previous year. Total revenues for the month were up 14 percent on February and 19 percent on the corresponding period the previous year, the carrier said in a statement. In February, Etihad carried 27,900 tonnes of freight. David Kerr, Etihad Airways vice president cargo, said: "Etihad Airways had a record month in March in terms of cargo carried and revenue generated. "We saw very strong demand from Asia throughout the month as activity picked up after a slow start to the year. European traffic was also firm, as it has been throughout the first quarter, and demand into and out of America has also rallied." He added: "Etihad Airways has benefited in the first three months of 2012 from increased capacity as a result of taking delivery of a B777 freighter at the end of last year, and from opening new passenger routes. "Looking ahead, we expect to maintain strong freight performance over the second quarter of the year." Etihad Airways cargo operations accounted for up to 20 percent of the airline's overall revenues in 2011, The airline has a fleet of seven freighter aircraft. Etihad Airways carried 8.3 million passengers last year. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad serves 84 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft.