Etihad expands focus on cargo operations

In line with its increasing focus on its cargo business, Etihad Airways yesterday signed a multi-year contract extension with World Airways, part of Global Aviation Holdings, through its cargo unit Etihad Crystal Cargo, to take two MD-11 cargo aircraft operating on scheduled routes to Europe, Asia and Africa. The move comes a week after the carrier launched its new Boeing 777 freighter operations from its base in Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport in Germany. The high-capacity freighter became Etihad's first Boeing freighter and joined the airline's existing Boeing 777 fleet, including seven 777-300ERs. Meanwhile, the two World Airways MD-11 freighters are set to help Etihad Airways maintain the cargo capacity it requires, Roy Kinnear, senior vice president of Etihad Crystal Cargo, said in a statement. Having introduced all-cargo services from Abu Dhabi International Airport in February 2005, Etihad currently operates a freighter fleet of one Boeing 777F, two Airbus A300-600RF regional freighters and two A330-200 freighters, in addition to the two MD-11 freighters from World Airways. The 777 freighter is the world's longest-range, twin-engine freighter featuring the lowest trip cost of any large freighter, industry experts say. While the Middle East cargo sector is growing rapidly, factors such as regional unrest and higher oil prices have impacted cargo traffic growth globally. The International Air Transport Association estimated a four per cent drop in May, 2011, freight traffic against the post-recession peak of in May 2010. In a revised 2011 outlook, in June, IATA reduced cargo demand by 0.6 per cent for the year due to higher fuel costs, from its earlier prediction of 6.1 per cent to 5.5 per cent. From / Gulf News