Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, yesterday (August 18) launched its inaugural flight to Ezhou Huahu Airport located in the Hubei Province of China.

 

Ezhou Huahu Airport was developed as Asia's first and the world's fourth professional cargo airport. Equipped with a 23,000-sq-m cargo terminal and a 700,000-sq-m freight transit centre, the airport serves as a gateway for air trade between China and the rest of the world.

 

The airport is expected to open ten international cargo routes and 50 domestic routes by 2025, with an annual cargo and mail throughput of 2.45 million tonnes.

 

With the Etihad Cargo's Boeing 777-200 freighter landing in Ezhou, it has become the first international airline to operate flights to the airport.

 

Etihad Cargo's expansion to Ezhou Huahu Airport follows the carrier's announcement that it has expanded its reciprocal block space agreement with SF Airlines to increase cargo capacity between China and the rest of the world via Etihad Cargo's hub in Abu Dhabi.

 

Leonard Rodrigues, Head of Revenue Management, Fleet and Network at Etihad Cargo, said: "Offering connectivity to China's five national-level city clusters via railway, waterway, expressway and air transportation infrastructure, Ezhou Huahu Airport is the region's first dedicated, professional cargo airport."

 

"The commencement of a weekly freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou opens up new interline opportunities with Etihad Cargo's partner SF Airlines and will enable the carrier to further expand its reach into the Chinese market, which is a key region to the airline and Etihad Cargo's customers and partners," he added.

 

This partnership has given Etihad Cargo's partners and customers greater accessibility to 25 domestic Chinese destinations, including Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Nanjing. SF Airlines benefits from Etihad Cargo's global network for its express product.

 

The introduction of a weekly freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou will play an important role in promoting seamless connectivity between China and countries and regions along the ‘Belt and Road’.-TradeArabia News Service