Etihad Cargo is introducing a fleet of Boeing 787-10 aircraft as passenger freighters to operate 34 weekly flights, serving 10 markets initially.
Each aircraft will provide capacity for 12 lower deck pallets and four containers, carrying up to 45 tons of payload, said the Abu Dhabi-based Middle East carrier which also has a fleet of Boeing 777 freighters.
The passenger as freighter aircraft network will introduce capacity, subject to permits, into India, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and other places where borders remain open for cargo.
The current freighter schedule operated by the carrier will see additional flights into Riyadh, London, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, managing director cargo and logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As the national carrier to the UAE, Etihad is working closely with the UAE government to ensure the country is well served and the needs of the people residing in the UAE are unaffected, while continuing to play our role as a facilitator of global trade between the East and the West.”
“In the current environment and as per our leadership’s guidance, it is essential these trade lanes remain open, and with the addition on this capacity we are able to serve those constrained markets that face decreased passenger freight operations, offering a strategic cargo lifeline and supporting the continuity of the global trade ecosystem.”
