The national airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the parent company of China’s Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport (CGO), Henan Province Airport Group, in order to strengthen aviation ties between the countries.
According to the statement, “The MoU contains plans for Etihad’s potential operation of regular cargo services between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) to establish the “Air Silk Road” between Henan Province and the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
The alliance also intends to turn CGO Airport into a regional air freight hub and diversify product sales as well as cargo distribution channels at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
Martin Drew SVP – Sales & Cargo Etihad Airways
“Etihad is very excited to see the potential to further expand its cargo footprint in China, and to create the ‘Air Silk Road’ between the emirate and Central China together with Henan Province Airport Group. This will greatly improve the diversification of product sales and cargo distribution channels in this region and strengthen economic and trade links between the UAE and China, and beyond. As the national airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways has played a key role in the transportation of vaccines and medical supplies within and outside the UAE, based on its professional medical logistics solutions. Since the start of the pandemic, Etihad Cargo has operated 1,042 flights out of Shanghai and Beijing, carrying over 65,000 tons on its Boeing 777 freighters and passenger freighters, among which 50 percent of the flights were medical supplies to support the global fight against COVID-19 and equip frontline medical professionals.”
Mr. Kang Xingzhen, Chairman of Henan Airport Group said, “We are very pleased to sign the MoU with Etihad Airways, a key airline player in the Middle East region with extensive network to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, to explore various opportunities under the ‘Air Silk Road’ aviation initiative inspired by the China-proposed ‘Belt and Road Initiative.”
As per the statement, Etihad Cargo offers a variety of commercial services to fulfill the different needs of the high-end product market segmentation and it utilizes Abu Dhabi’s natural position as a worldwide logistics hub to encourage the expansion of the air cargo high-value product market segmentation.
