Etihad Cargo has added five additional routes using Etihad Airways passenger aircraft to increase the flow of essential supplies into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and “provide further east-west connectivity between major markets”.

Using bellyhold capacity on a mix of Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, the carrier is introducing services between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, Chennai, Kerala, Karachi, and Amsterdam.

This will be in addition to its passenger freighters already operating scheduled cargo-only flights to Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Riyadh.

The carrier has said that the new routes will further ensure continuity of fresh imports to the UAE including meat, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Etihad Cargo has also operated a series of special charters to carry urgent consignments of medical supplies from mainland China and Hong Kong to destinations in Europe and the Americas.

Etihad has said that it is working closely with government authorities to provide such consignments having recently concluded dedicated cargo charters to Serbia, Greece, Chad, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Italy.

Managing director cargo and logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, said: “In accordance with the mandate from our country’s leadership to preserve the wellbeing and safety of the citizens and residents in the UAE, Etihad Cargo is pleased to play a leading role in continuing to deliver essential supplies to the UAE, in this unprecedented environment.

“We are also playing our part in supporting international requirements for essential freight, carrying significant consignments of goods between other nations.”

With the five additional routes, Etihad Cargo will now operate more than 90 turnaround flights a week to 29 destinations in five continents using the combined fleet of dedicated Boeing 777 freighters and Boeing 787 passenger aircraft.

Visit etihadcargo.com for more information.