Etihad Cargo volume up by 4 percent in 2015

Jan 18, 2016: Etihad Airways reported strong cargo volumes for 2015, with 592,090 tonnes of freight and mail flown in total, a four percent increase year-on-year. The airline accounted for 88 percent of cargo imports, exports and transfers at Abu Dhabi International Airport last year.

During 2015, Etihad Cargo enhanced its global reach by offering bellyhold capacity on Etihad Airways’ six new passenger destinations, bringing to 96 the total number of passenger destinations on which cargo services are currently provided. Etihad Cargo also expanded its freighter services to several new markets including Dakar, Nouakchott and Douala, bringing the number of freighter-only destinations operated to 20.

Etihad Airways’ fleet consisted of 121 aircraft at the end of 2015 (+9 per cent year-on-year), with an average age of 5.8 years, one of the youngest and most environmentally-friendly in the industry. The airline took delivery of 11 Airbus (four A380s, six A321s and one A320) and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in 2015, while further leased capacity was also added.

To support the next phase of its global network expansion, Etihad Airways will receive 10 aircraft deliveries this year, including five Boeing 787-9s, three A380s and two Boeing 777-200 Freighters.

James Hogan, president and chief executive officer, Etihad Airways’ said, “We enter 2016 with confidence as a stronger, more dynamic airline that will continue to support the evolution of Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub.

”We continue to face challenges, not least the protectionism of the major American and European legacy carriers. We will continue to fight to bring new competitive choice to travellers around the world.”

The airline delivered strong operational performance in terms of passenger volume as well. The airline carried 17.4 million passengers last year, a significant increase of 17 percent over 2014 levels, and operated 97,400 flights which covered 467 million kilometres. In total, Etihad Airways carried more than 75 percent of the total passengers who travelled to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2015.

Etihad Airways introduced six additional destinations to its global route network in 2015, with new flights to Kolkata, Madrid, Edinburgh, Entebbe, Hong Kong, and Dar es Salaam, and a new direct service to Brisbane.

Last year also saw Etihad Airways’ fleet boosted with the deployment of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which entered commercial service on routes to Washington DC, Zurich, Singapore and Brisbane. The Airbus A380 network was expanded with a second service to London Heathrow and new flights to Sydney and New York.