Etihad Cargo has expanded its US network and will offer increased capacity to the region with the introduction of a new service to Boston, Massachusetts.

The carrier's inaugural flight arrived on March 31, commencing the regular service that will see the airline operate four flights per week to Boston.

In the announcement, Etihad Cargo said Boston is its fourth US destination, and the new route reinforces the cargo carrier's commitment to providing tailored cargo solutions to the North American region.

"The new service will be operated on a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which will provide an additional cargo capacity of 50 tonnes per week, catering to the robust demand for freight between Boston and Abu Dhabi," it said.

Focus on perishables, pharma, aircraft parts

Etihad Cargo noted that it will offer tailor-made solutions for the diverse range of commodities prevalent in the Boston region, with a focus on perishables, medical instruments, pharmaceuticals, and aircraft parts.

Boston is recognised globally as a critical hub for food, pharmaceuticals, and cutting-edge research and development.

Etihad Cargo said its expansion into this market is poised to significantly enhance the flow of perishables such as lobsters and seafood, as well as critical pharmaceuticals, including medical devices and oncology treatments, from Boston to Abu Dhabi and the rest of the world.

The launch of the Boston route marks the latest addition to Etihad Cargo's comprehensive US network, which includes double daily flights to New York's JFK airport, daily services to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Washington, DC (IAD), and a weekly freighter service to Chicago.

Etihad Cargo said this expansion brings the total number of flights Etihad Cargo operates to the US to 33 per week.

"The introduction of the Boston route is a strategic expansion of Etihad Cargo's US network, offering more belly capacity to partners and customers. Boston is an important destination for food and pharmaceuticals, as well as a centre for innovation and development," said Stanislas Brun, vice president of cargo at Etihad Cargo.

"Etihad Cargo's Abu Dhabi-Boston service will support the region's export economy, particularly in facilitating the global distribution of its world-class seafood and breakthrough medical products, and further strengthen trade ties between the US and UAE," he added.

Further enhancing the carrier's capabilities in the US, Etihad Cargo expanded its network with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, to incorporate all the carrier's stations in the US.