Etihad Crystal Cargo, a division of Etihad Airways, has launched a weekly service from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport to Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The service operates an A300-600F freighter to Erbil with a payload of 42 tonnes on the route. Flights commenced on 26 March and will operate twice weekly.

Cargo flights to Erbil are Etihad’s second cargo service to Iraq, following a twice weekly service to Baghdad which commenced on 11 September 2009. “Our service to Baghdad has built a strong customer base in the country and we look forward to continuing our contribution to developing commercial ties between the UAE and Iraq,” said Des Vertannes, executive VP of Crystal Cargo. The cargo division has a fleet of two Airbus A300-600 and two MD11 freighters and along with bellyhold capacity has 22 cargo freighter destinations in the Middle East and Africa and 70 destinations across the globe. Etihad’s passenger side also operates five return services per week to Baghdad with A320 aircraft and will expand its operation with two additional A320 return services to Erbil from 1 June.