Etihad Cargo continues to ramp up China capacity
22 / 08 / 2023
Source: Etihad Cargo
Etihad Cargo has continued to expand freighter capacity out of China with flights to Guangzhou.
The carrier has added a weekly Boeing 777 freighter service into Guangzhou in response to “increased demand for cargo capacity for China”.
Last week, the carrier added a weekly freighter flight to cargo specialist Ezhou Airport as part of its block space agreement with SF Airlines.
The carrier now offers 10 freighter flights a week to mainland China.
Etihad Cargo head of revenue management, fleet and network Leonard Rodrigues said: “With the introduction of a new freighter service between our Abu Dhabi hub and Guangzhou, combined with increased frequencies across China via Etihad Cargo’s freighter services and the airline’s passenger flights, customers and partners benefit from increased cargo capacity.
“Expanding the carrier’s reach into the Chinese market not only meets the increased demand for cargo capacity in this region but will also further strengthen ties between the UAE and China, providing more opportunities for increased collaboration between the two countries.”
A Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport spokesperson added: “The introduction of this all-cargo scheduled flight route will further enhance trade and logistics development between Guangzhou and Abu Dhabi International Airport, while strengthening connectivity between the Middle East, China, and other Belt and Road Initiative economies.”
In addition to the freighter flights to Ezhou and Guangzhou, the carrier also offers eight weekly freighter flights to Shanghai.
Meanwhile, Etihad also offers ten passenger flights per week to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai as well as road feeder services to 25 domestic mainland China destinations.
The addition of the new flights to China come as the country reports weaker high-tech manufacturing output.
The South China Morning Post reported that industrial output from China’s hi-tech manufacturing sector grew by just 0.7% year on year in July as the US and China engage in what is described as tech war.
Deflation fears, weak demand and weak sentiment were other contributory factors.
Etihad Cargo however remains positive about the market. In a recent interview with Air Cargo News, Rodrigues pointed out that China and the UAE have a strong relationship, which supported demand in the Middle East compared with other regions.
He also praised the Etihad team covering the China market and pointed out that the carrier is smaller in scale than others making it easier to match supply and demand.
The carrier is also expecting demand to pick up for the peak season and has noted increasing charter prices in recent months as companies gear up for increasing demand over the coming months.
Etihad eyes Ezhou cargo flights as it expands SF Airlines partnership
