Etihad Cargo celebrates 20 years operations in India

Etihad Cargo is celebrating 20 years of operations in India, reflecting its long-term commitment to the market. The airline has significantly expanded its presence, offering belly hold capacity via nonstop services to 12 major Indian cities, and is planning further growth to support the country's trade activities.

The carrier handles over 46,000 tonnes of cargo annually ex India and offers widebody and narrowbody capacity via 588 monthly rotations that connect India to over 100 global destinations via Etihad Cargo's Abu Dhabi hub.

The introduction of specialized products, including IATA CEIV Pharma-certified PharmaLife and IATA CEIV Li-batt-certified SecureTech, demonstrates Etihad Cargo's focus on meeting sector-specific needs, particularly in pharmaceuticals and electronics. The airline is committed to further innovation, network expansion, and capacity enhancements to continue supporting its customers in India.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, is celebrating 20 years of operations in India, a milestone that reflects the airline's ongoing commitment to the Indian market since its first flight to Mumbai on 26 September 2004. Over the years, Etihad Cargo has expanded its presence in India, now offering belly hold capacity via nonstop services between Abu Dhabi and 12 major Indian cities, with plans for further growth.

Etihad Cargo handles over 46,000 tonnes of cargo annually ex India, connecting the country to over 100 global destinations via its Abu Dhabi hub via 588 widebody and narrowbody rotations each month. To meet the needs of specific sectors, Etihad Cargo has enhanced its product range, adding new features and launching new products. Key commodities handled include electronics, including mobile phones and semiconductors, garments, pharmaceuticals, perishables, e-commerce, automobile components and courier shipments, reflecting the diversity and strength of India's manufacturing and export sectors.

The carrier's IATA CEIV Pharma-certified PharmaLife product provides precise temperature control for the safe transport of high-value pharmaceuticals, a growing market in India. Etihad Cargo is exploring additional certified pharma trade lanes with key airline partners and has implemented stringent cargo screening for US-bound shipments from major Indian hubs, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad. Etihad Cargo's pharma roadshows in India, launched in 2023, have helped double PharmaLife volumes by improving connectivity and frequencies. Additionally, the introduction of Etihad Cargo's IATA CEIV Li-batt-certified SecureTech product in 2024 has supported the growth of electronics shipments.

"As Etihad Cargo celebrates two decades of successful operations in India, the carrier's commitment to its customers remains strong," said Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo. "Etihad Cargo's continued investment in its network, product range, infrastructure, and digitalisation efforts ensures the carrier can provide efficient, reliable air cargo solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers in India and beyond."