Etihad Cargo adjusts freighter network and appoints new US area manager
25 / 09 / 2019
Etihad Cargo will adjust one of its US freighter services and has added new leadership in the country.
From September 29, the airline will add an outbound stop at Frankfurt Airport to its existing weekly B777F service between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Ohio’s Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK). On the return leg the flight will now stop at Amsterdam Schipol.
Etihad Cargo plans to introduce a second weekly flight to LCK, opening up an additional European gateway, before the end of the year.
The airline has also added a new road feeder network between LCK and other US destinations including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Philadelphia.
The LCK freighters complement existing bellyhold capacity on Etihad’s direct widebody services between Abu Dhabi and major US gateways including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.
Meanwhile, to support Etihad Cargo’s operations in North America, Christel Alaimo has been appointed as area manager – north America, with immediate effect. Alaimo was previously senior manager – airfreight for the Americas, at Flexport and had also held similar senior roles for other international carriers in the US.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Etihad Aviation Group’s managing director cargo and logistics services, said: “As a strategic addition to our US team, Alaimo will significantly boost our Stateside operation as an invaluable in-market resource to drive growth across North America and spearhead plans to provide additional connectivity to our customers across the US.”
The carrier has also made other changes to its freighter network. From October 5, Etihad Cargo will also introduce a weekly Boeing 777 freighter service to Johannesburg’s Tambo International Airport (JNB). The new JNB freighter complements existing bellyhold capacity on daily widebody operations between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, Cairo, Casablanca, Rabat and Lagos.
Following its network refresh, Etihad Cargo anticipates increased demand for its FreshForward service – a dedicated product for the movement of perishable goods, including vegetables and flowers from Africa and Asia, as well as increased connectivity for garment flows between Asia, Europe and the US.
