WELLGO and Etihad Airways: New Horizons in Air Freight

2024-11-10 12:00 News

The WELLGO team met with Grant Kemp, the Regional Director of Etihad Airways, responsible for Africa, the Middle East, and the CIS. This was Grant's first visit to Russia, during which he engaged with key customers in the cargo aviation sector.

Founded in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways (EY) is the second-largest airline in the United Arab Emirates. Its fleet comprises 95 aircraft, including 52 wide-body passenger planes and 5 cargo aircraft. Etihad operates flights to more than 40 destinations, including daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Moscow (Sheremetyevo) and two weekly flights to St. Petersburg on Boeing 787 aircraft.

During the meeting, the parties explored cooperation in two key areas: the development of pharmaceutical transportation and the enhancement of import deliveries on the Abu Dhabi–Moscow route.

Pharmaceutical transportation development

Etihad Airways is a global leader in the transportation of pharmaceutical goods. Abu Dhabi Airport’s infrastructure enables the handling of temperature-sensitive cargo in compliance with GDP standards, and the airline holds the international CEIV certification. However, in the Russian market, Etihad is still in the early stages of developing its pharmaceutical logistics capabilities.

The parties discussed steps to facilitate a successful start, including obtaining approval for the use of Russian temperature indicators, developing tripartite operational procedures, and signing quality agreements between Etihad Airways, WELLGO, and the cargo terminal.

Development of import deliveries on the Abu Dhabi–Moscow route

Demand for air freight between the UAE and Russia continues to grow. However, capacity availability is constrained by seasonality, leading to a shortage of space, higher rates, and longer transit times. Middle Eastern carriers primarily prioritize humanitarian goods, resulting in load factors below 50%.

To improve the competitiveness of these routes, the discussion focused on securing general approvals from Etihad Airways’ headquarters for the transportation of pharmaceutical and cosmetic goods for WELLGO’s clients.

Etihad Airways views the Russian market as promising not only for passenger services but also for cargo operations. The airline is ready to take the necessary steps to increase cargo flow.

For WELLGO, partnering with Etihad Airways is an opportunity to expand its air freight offerings and provide clients with high-quality, reliable cargo solutions.