Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group, announced that it has reclaimed 90% of its pre-COVID destinations and recorded a 20% increase in tonnage compared to the same period in 2019. 

In a statement, the UAE carrier said it currently services 72 network destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas — with an active fleet of 65 aircraft operating 430 weekly rotations.

This is in addition to charter flights which service demand across non-network destinations, it added.

"Etihad Cargo has maintained network operations throughout the pandemic and provided appropriate capacity to cater for demand on key routes, which has resulted in a significant increase in tonnage being carried across the global network," said Martin Drew, senior vice president sales & cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.

"The commitment to expanding operations and provision of additional support to customers where there have been capacity shortages has seen Etihad Cargo carrying more on fewer routes than pre-pandemic. During the coming months, capacity growth is expected to continue, supported by the reintroduction of Etihad Airways passenger flights."

In the past month, Etihad Airways sais it introduced flights to Malaga, Mykonos, Santorini, Phuket and Vienna, providing additional belly-hold capacity between Europe and Asia.

Charter operations and a cabin loading initiative – which saw the carrier modify five of its Boeing 777 aircraft by removing seats to provide additional capacity on key routes such as Dhaka and Ho Chi Minh City – have enabled the Abu Dhabi-based carrier to service increased Asian demand. 

"Record loads have recently been achieved on a number of Asian flights, including more than 58,000 kg from Dhaka and 52,000 kg from Ho Chi Minh," Drew added. "

These loads, with increased capacity enabled by cabin loading, were bound for Middle Eastern and European destinations via Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi hub – a clear demonstration of the carrier’s determination to continue facilitating a global trade recovery."

Year-to-date, Etihad Cargo has operated over 200 charter flights to 30 destinations not serviced through its network, 20% of which were on behalf of the UAE Government.