Taking a gape to foster economic development in both the UAE and Africa, Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation inked a Memorandum of Figuring out (MoU) in Abu Dhabi to plan on the opportunity within the busy change lane.
Africa exports perishables into the Middle East, basically constructed from flowers, contemporary fruits, greens and meat, whereas it imports user items and e-commerce, consolidated from China and SE Asia.
“This receive-receive partnership will give a defend shut to the movement of Perishables from Kenya and South Africa into Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi Hub and onwards to the Etihad network, as well to rising the capability for Etihad’s companions to feed into Astral’s African network on the return route,” Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO at Astral Aviation, explained.
“Together, Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation will supply air cargo solutions that cater to the dynamic wants of companions and clients, in particular within the rapid-rising African market,” Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo at Etihad Cargo, added.
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Strengthening change
The scheduled flight into the Abu Dhabi hub and into Etihad’s world network will lead to contemporary alternatives for Africa’s Perishables exports.
Bolstering relatives between the 2 areas, the contemporary flight will transfer items from the Astral hubs in Nairobi and Johannesburg into the UAE, whereas the return will lift items from Etihad’s aspect from Asia, the USA and Europe into Africa, ensuing in contemporary alternatives for both airline’s clients.
“We receive forty five interline agreements and partnerships which is prone to be in step with bilateral relationships that enable our companions to earn entry to our network with none restrictions,” Gadhia highlighted.
“Airfreight volumes from Africa and the Middle East are in step with a 70-30 rupture up between Stomach and Valuable Deck, which has resulted in decrease yields to areas corresponding to Kenya and South Africa.
“The expand in change will lead to improved volumes, which may perhaps require additional valuable deck capability.”
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Smartly timed developments
Increasing cargo operations to and from Zayed Global Airport is a key ingredient of Etihad Cargo and the UAE’s idea to present a defend shut to Abu Dhabi’s station as an airfreight hub.
The partnership moreover comes after Etihad Cargo launched its contemporary frigid chain facility, doubling capability at the airport as fragment of the broader ambition to compose bigger operations within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. This proved successful, with the airline marking a 37% expand in pharmaceutical shipments in 2023, when compared with 2022.
“Teaming up with Etihad Cargo now may perhaps well perhaps be very precious, with very preferrred timing ensuing from these developments, which may perhaps lead to bigger effectivity for our purchasers,” Gadhia outlined.
“From state-of-the-art cooling companies in a position to safely transporting temperature-controlled items and pharmaceuticals, to a prime expand in operational capability, Zayed Global Airport helps to foster bigger change between Abu Dhabi and the world,” Wilson Chan, Senior Vice President – Freezone Cargo & Logistics of Abu Dhabi Airports, said.
“This inaugural flight, and the graduation of weekly flights to Nairobi, is additional proof of the major industrial and industry ties Abu Dhabi Airports, and our companions Etihad Airways and Astral Aviation, are serving to to facilitate.”
