US cargo airline and lessor Atlas Air has entered a new long-term partnership with Etihad Cargo that will see it operate a newly delivered Boeing 777 freighter that is dedicated exclusively to UAE-based Etihad Cargo.
From this month, the aircraft, which has a payload of more than 100 tons, will serve routes connecting Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Madrid.
Air Cargo News (ACN) has requested more information about how often the freighter will operate.
Etihad recently told ACN that it planned to add widebody freighters to build up its freighter capacity ahead of the arrival of the 10 A350Fs it has on order with Airbus.
In total, Etihad plans to eventually operate a fleet of 13 freighters (10 A350Fs and three Boeing 777Fs) once deliveries are complete, seven more than the six freighters (five 777s - two of which are leased - and one Boeing 747) it currently offers.
The capacity arrangement between the two airlines is the latest development in a working relationship dating back to 2012, when Atlas Air first began providing flight services over a multi-year period.
The partnership follows a recent warning from Atlas Air Worldwide chief executive Michael Steen that there will be a shortage of widebody freighter capacity for the next ten years and beyond.
"We are pleased to again partner with Etihad Cargo, one of the industry's most respected carriers," said Steen. "This partnership reflects our strong value proposition and the trust we've built with customers over time.
"We are pleased to tailor this long-term dedicated capacity solution to help Etihad capture growth opportunities. With our global scale and flexible, agile network, Atlas Air is enabling Etihad to expand their operations and serve their customers with confidence.
"With our industry-leading fleet of widebody freighters and deep operating expertise, Atlas Air is proud to be a trusted partner of choice, and we look forward to supporting Etihad’s continued success.”
Etihad Airways chief cargo officer Stanislas Brun said: “Etihad Cargo’s expanded collaboration with Atlas Air represents a strategic step in scaling capacity and extending our global reach. With Etihad Airways’ passenger fleet continuing to grow, it is essential that our freighter fleet expands in parallel to sustain this momentum and deliver end-to-end network connectivity.
"By aligning growth across both passenger and freighter operations, Etihad Cargo reinforces its ability to meet evolving customer demand, strengthen high-volume trade lanes and introduce greater flexibility across key markets. This additional capacity further enhances the reliability and agility of our services, ensuring the delivery of seamless and efficient cargo solutions worldwide.”
