UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways and China-based freight carrier SF Airlines have signed a Joint Business Agreement (JBA) that is designed to enhance their cargo operations, expand their network capacity and offer their customers greater flexibility and service options.
The agreement was signed in Munich at the Air Cargo Europe trade show by Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of Etihad Airways, and Li Sheng, vice president of SF Group and chairman of Shenzhen-headquartered SF Airlines.
The two carriers are to jointly market and integrate their airfreight services. The partnership, a statement from Etihad said, is designed “to foster incremental growth and create a seamless, shared network that offers customers an expanded range of destinations, increased cargo capacity and enhanced service efficiency”.
As part of the condition of the deal, Etihad and SF Airlines will also improve the range of customer choice by expanding network connectivity and capacity across key trade lanes.
Plus, the two carriers will invest in improving service quality and operational efficiency.
The partners will coordinate pricing strategies and align service standards, thereby delivering “a streamlined and competitive offering”.
Additionally, the collaboration will support the strategic allocation of routes, sales efforts and client portfolios, allowing – the statement said – for joint decision-making while driving operational synergies.
The joint business is to particularly focus on key cargo product verticals, including Etihad Cargo’s SecureTech and PharmaLife solutions, which support the movement of high-value electronics, sensitive equipment and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical goods.
Neves commented: “This business agreement marks an important step in Etihad’s strategy to strengthen global connectivity and deliver greater value to our customers.
“By working closely with SF Airlines, we are expanding our service offerings, optimising operational efficiency and enhancing our competitive position in the air cargo industry.”
Li added: “This agreement represents a significant milestone for SF Airlines as we continue to build our international network.
“Partnering with Etihad Airways enables us to increase capacity and gain greater market access, offering customers enhanced services.
“Together, we will drive innovation and efficiency to meet the growing demand for high-quality logistics solutions.”
Growing fleets
In mid-March, Air Cargo News reported that SF Airlines had taken delivery of its latest freighter, a widebody 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF), at its Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport hub.
Parent company SF Express (Europe) said in a LinkedIn post at the time: “SF Airlines’ fleet has reached a milestone of 90 freighters, solidifying our position as a leading cargo airline in China and strengthening our global air logistics capabilities.
“This achievement marks a significant expansion from our humble beginnings in 2009 when we operated just a single aircraft.
“Today, our diverse fleet includes Boeing 737s, 747s, 757s, and 767s, enabling us to serve over 110 cities worldwide.”
The following month (April), Etihad Cargo confirmed that it had expanded its maindeck capacity by 18 percent to meet increasing demand in the Greater China market.
Addtiional capacity was provided in the form of a wet-leased Boeing 747 freighter.
The extra capacity was 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.
And, in other Etihad news from Air Cargo Europe, the carrier yesterday revealed that it is to introduce SmartTrack, a premium service that gives customers real-time access to shipment location and status data.
Etihad Cargo will, it said, become the first freight carrier globally to implement this type of advanced smart tracking solution.
