Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways, is to introduce SmartTrack, a premium service that gives customers real-time access to shipment location and status data.
Officially unveiled at Air Cargo Europe 2025 being held this week in Munich, Etihad Cargo will, it said, become the first carrier globally to implement this type of advanced smart tracking solution.
SmartTrack will be available to customers via the Etihad Cargo website and mobile app from this October, as part of the airline’s broader digital transformation strategy that is focused on “innovation, operational excellence and exceeding evolving customer expectations”.
SmartTrack was developed in partnership with San Diego, California-headquartered tracking and logistics solutions provider Tag-N-Trac.
It uses smart label technology to deliver comprehensive end-to-end shipment monitoring capability, the label enabling cellular, GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, capturing real-time data on exact location, temperature and humidity, shock, tilt and light exposure.
SmartTrack is thus well-suited to condition-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and high-value goods.
The smart label can remain active for up to 30 days. It is to be fully integrated into Etihad Cargo’s digital platform and mobile app and will offer customers a tailored, intuitive interface featuring live maps, milestone updates and access to full sensor data.
It will be supported by Etihad Cargo’s centralised control tower, which delivers 24/7 operational oversight and proactive performance monitoring.
Transformational capability
“This launch represents a transformation in how we deliver even more peace of mind to our customers,” enthused Stanislas Brun, chief cargo officer at Etihad Airways.
“By combining simplicity, intelligence and automation, we are reinforcing our commitment to smarter, more transparent logistics.”
Venu Gutlapalli, chief executive of Tag-N-Trac, added: “When Etihad Airways’ cargo team asked us if we could deliver an air cargo visibility digital solution in three months, we were up for the challenge.
“We knew we were setting a new standard in cargo visibility with our smart label-based RELATIVITY platform, empowering Etihad with the information they need, when they need it, across the globe.”
According to Etihad, SmartTrack has already been extensively field-tested across major global trade lanes, and has demonstrated “consistent, high-accuracy performance across both air and ground transport”.
Supporting capacity growth
Etihad continues to ramp up capacity as well as its support service capability. In April, it announced that it had expanded its maindeck capacity by 18 percent to meet increasing demand in the Greater China market.
Addtiional capacity was being made available in the form of a wet-leased Boeing 747-F. The extra capacity is expected to support “increased freight movements on high-demand routes and provide customers with greater flexibility in shipping cargo to and from key markets”, the airline said.
Those key markets include Europe as well as Asia, and Etihad Cargo added two additional weekly flights to London as well as three additional weekly freighter flights to Shenzhen.
Brun noted at the time: “Etihad Cargo continues to invest in expanding its network and capacity to support the evolving needs of global trade.”
