Etihad Cargo expands freighter network for winter 2025 season
New route to East Midlands and added flights across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East boost global trade links.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, is expanding its freighter network for the Winter 2025 season with new routes and additional flight frequencies to meet rising demand across major trade and manufacturing markets. The move enhances key trade corridors spanning Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, while further positioning Abu Dhabi as a central global logistics hub connecting East and West.
A highlight of the new schedule is the introduction of a dedicated freighter service to the United Kingdom, with two weekly flights to East Midlands, one of the UK’s most active freight hubs. The route, which began on 27 October, connects Abu Dhabi directly to the UK’s primary distribution network for both domestic and European deliveries.
In Asia, Etihad Cargo is expanding its capacity in major production markets with additional services to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Ezhou. This growth coincides with the carrier’s participation in Air Cargo Southeast Asia (ACSA) 2025, underscoring its commitment to deepening its footprint in the region and opening new opportunities for exporters and businesses.
Further network enhancements include extra weekly freighter flights to Riyadh, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt. These increases aim to support growing cargo volumes and offer customers greater flexibility and reliability throughout the peak winter period.
The expanded freighter schedule complements Etihad Airways’ recent announcement of 16 new passenger destinations to be launched between November 2025 and March 2026, connecting cities such as Addis Ababa, Algiers, Almaty, Baku, Bucharest, Chiang Mai, and others.
Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer of Etihad Airways, said, “Every shipment represents a connection that matters. As we enter the busy winter period, increasing our network capacity and introducing new trade routes means giving our customers more ways to move their goods with reliability and care. Through this strategic expansion, we hope to continue empowering businesses and communities to thrive.”
Etihad Cargo’s enhanced Winter 2025 schedule reaffirms its role as a key global connector, offering efficient, high-quality air freight solutions that link major economic centres. As the airline group grows across new markets, it remains focused on enabling smarter, faster, and more seamless cargo movement worldwide, building connections that truly go beyond borders.
