Etihad Airways will receive its first Boeing 747-8 freighter, the largest aircraft in its growing freighter fleet. The freighter, which has a payload capacity of 138 tonnes and a range of 5,000 miles, will enter service with the carrier in June. Etihad Airways signed a multi-year aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement with Atlas Air Worldwide to provide the 747-8. “Cargo is one of our key strategic pillars and a growing part of the business. In 2012, it delivered tonnage growth of 19 percent on the back of a capacity increase of 14 percent in available tonnage kilometers,” James Hogan, Etihad Airways president and CEO, said. “This deal with Atlas for a Boeing 747-8 freighter reinforces our ability to serve a growing number of customers from around the globe.” The delivery will take Etihad Cargo’s freighter fleet to nine aircraft. Aircargo World |