Etihad has taken delivery of the first two of Airbus’ new A330- 200 freighter, as the United Arab Emirates-based carrier became the default launch customer after India-based Flyington Freighters encountered delays in getting an operator certificate. Etihad’s A330-200 freighter aircraft – which can carry up to 64 tonnes of cargo and can fly up to 7,400 kilometres non-stop – will allow the airline’s cargo business to increase frequencies and build its presence in the high-growth European and Asian freight markets, in particular China, the carrier said.

The carrier has subsequently taken delivery of its second A330-200 and the two new freighters will be deployedon existing services to Hahn, Tripoli and Milan, Ndjamena and Nairobi, andBeijing when they enter service on 1September and 1 October, accordingto Roy Kinnear senior vice-president ofEtihad Crystal Cargo.

Hahn and Khartoum will rise from two to four weekly services while Guangzhou, Tripoli, N’djamena and Nairobi will increase from once to twice weekly and Shanghai from five to seven services a week. The Beijing flights will be three times a week and all China flights will return to Abu Dhabi via India.

Shanghai will continue to be served by the MD-11F, while its A300s will serve Chennai, Colombo, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Nairobi, Bangalore, Calcutta and Khartoum. Kinnear says other new destinations are being considered and Etihad will also have more capacity in the charter market, particularly to Afghanistan, Iraq and East Africa.

Etihad will also take on another new freighter next year, a B777F, which it will take delivery of in June 2011, giving the cargo division a mixed bag of freighter capacity. The carrier’s fleet consists of four existing freighters – two leased MD-11Fs and two A300-600Fs leased from Maximus Air Cargo, which will remain in the Etihad Cyrstal Cargo fleet, bringing its total number of all-cargo aircraft up to six.

Speaking at the handover ceremony for the first A330-200 during the Farnborough International Air Show, Etihad CEO James Hogan said: “Etihad Crystal Cargo has been performing very well for Etihad. Over the last quarter there was an 18 per cent increase in cargo tonnage carried, reflecting the strengthening recovery in our industry. We are focused on taking the right steps to achieve strong expansion and growth,” he said. “The new aircraft will become a key part of our freighter fleet and make a major contribution to building the strength and network of our cargo business. The additional capacity will help us significantly expand our footprint in Asia and Europe, including China, as well as enhancing our worldwide charter services.”