Abu Dhabi: Etihad Cargo began commence a weekly freighter service to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Friday. On the return sector to Abu Dhabi, the freighter will also stop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s biggest city — is a major industrial and economic centre in East Africa, and following the first Etihad Cargo flight today, all subsequent weekly freighter services will operate every Monday to Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR).

Etihad Cargo will deploy one of its three Airbus A330-200 widebody freighters on the route, offering customers heavy uplift capability of up to 64 metric tonnes.

Initially, the UAE airline expects the service to carry heavy electronics, medical equipment and food items to Dar es Salaam, with primarily perishable goods destined for the Gulf region and Europe loaded for the return flights.