Soon after launching its first 787-9 into commercial service on Feb. 1, Etihad Airways had more cause for celebration with a record-high annual total of nearly 569,000 tonnes of freight and mail, a 17 percent increase over 2013 figures.
The United Arab Emirates-based airline accounted for nearly 90 percent of cargo imports, exports and transfers at Abu Dhabi International Airport last year.
Etihad Cargo added bellyhold capacity to 10 new destinations in its route network last year, including Medina, Jaipur, Los Angeles, Zurich, Perth, Rome, Yerevan, Phuket, San Francisco and Dallas. Frequencies were increased on 23 existing global routes during the course of the yeaer.
The carrier also expanded freighter services to various cities, such as Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Hanoi and Moscow. In an agreement with Colombian carrier Avianca Cargo, Etihad added freighter service from Milan to Bogotá and from Bogotá to Amsterdam.
Etihad Airways’ fleet consisted of 110 aircraft at the end of 2014, a 24 percent year-over-year increase over the last 5.5 years. The carrier added nine Airbus aircraft (two A330-200s, three A321s, three A320s and one A330-200F) and six Boeing aircraft (one 777-300ER, five 777-200LRs).
In addition, Etihad carried 14.8 million passengers in 2014, a 23 percent increase in passenger demand over 2013, and another new record. In August 2014, Etihad announced a €560 million investment in Alitalia, representing a 49 percent share in the Italian carrier, now known as New Alitalia since Jan. 1.