Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, has announced it will be expanding its freighter network with a new route to Madrid. Starting on July 15, 2024, Etihad Cargo will operate two weekly Boeing 777 freighter flights between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD). The new route is expected to add over 200 tons of cargo capacity for Europe each week.

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The twice-weekly freighter service means Etihad Cargo will increase the total number of flights to Spain to 25 per week.

Etihad Cargo already provides belly capacity via 10 passenger flights to Madrid, 10 to Barcelona and three seasonal flights to Malaga launched as part of the airline’s summer schedule.

Stanislas Brun, vice president of cargo at Etihad Cargo, said: “Launching Madrid as Etihad Cargo’s latest European freighter destination supports the growing demand for e-commerce flows between Asia and Europe.

“Madrid’s role as a key fashion hub makes it an essential destination for the carrier’s freighter network.”

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Etihad Cargo‘s new route to Madrid enhances its European freighter network, now totalling 11 weekly flights, including routes to Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

The summer schedule adds more belly hold capacity with two weekly flights to Nice, 14 flights to Athens (including routes via Mykonos and Santorini), a new three-weekly route to Antalya, and an increase to 14 weekly flights to Istanbul starting July 22.

Dublin will also see an increase to 10 weekly flights from July 23.