Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines, a subsidiary of SF Holding, have committed to a project that will establish a joint venture to strengthen trade ties between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China.

The cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways said key representatives from both airlines convened on September 18 at SF Airlines' headquarters in Shenzhen to formalise their intention to establish a joint venture.

"This joint venture project builds on the already successful partnership between Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines, which has significantly enhanced connectivity and capacity between China, the UAE, and global markets," Etihad said in a statement.

It noted that the current collaboration has seen both airlines sharing capacity to improve global trade routes, a relationship that has been mutually beneficial for both airlines and their customers.

"The newly announced joint venture project will take this collaboration to unprecedented heights," Etihad Cargo said.

"Beyond capacity sharing, this partnership represents a full strategic alignment between Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines, combining their strengths to offer a unified, comprehensive logistics solution to customers worldwide," it added.

 [Source: Etihad Cargo]

Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of Etihad Airways, said Etihad is excited to embark on this new journey with SF Airlines, which will enable both airlines to provide even more connectivity, flexibility, and speed to customers for e-commerce and traditional air cargo verticals.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, highlighted the importance of this joint venture in supporting Abu Dhabi's strategic ambitions.

"As the national carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airways is deeply committed to supporting Abu Dhabi's vision of becoming a global logistics and express hub. This joint venture with SF Airlines is a critical step in realising that vision," he said.

"By aligning our strengths, Etihad Airways and SF Airlines are enhancing operations and contributing to the economic growth and diversification of Abu Dhabi, Ezhou and Shenzhen," Neves added.

Key aspects of the joint venture include increased aircraft capacity, improved transit times, interconnected networks and the expanded distribution of SF Express's international express services.

These enhancements will offer SF Airlines and its customers greater flexibility and faster European connections.

Additionally, the partnership will expand the number of frequencies, hubs, and destinations served, leading to smoother transitions and more efficient operations.

Wang Wei, chairman of SF Holding, said the joint venture is a "pioneering development" in air cargo logistics between China and the UAE.

"By joining forces with Etihad Cargo, we are setting new standards for the industry, particularly in response to the rising demand for e-commerce, airmail, and parcel delivery. This is a long-term commitment to enhancing the quality and reliability of our operations," he added.

The announcement noted that the collaboration will focus on integrating Etihad Cargo's customer service with SF Airlines' extensive capacity and reach, creating a synergy that is expected to significantly boost the potential of UAE-China trade routes.

The next phase of this partnership will involve finalising the scope of the collaboration, with updates to be provided in the near future and a definitive agreement to be signed shortly.

"Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines are committed to continuing to develop their relationship, which will no longer see the airlines marketing independently but as partners dedicated to better serving their customers and the global market," the announcement said.