Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways said on Thursday, its cargo unit, Etihad Cargo, has certified international ground handling services company Swissport International as its first Preferred Handling Partner (PHP).
The two-year PHP certification with Swissport is focused initially on six Etihad Cargo stations including Athens, Geneva, Larnaca, Nairobi, Seoul and Toronto, Abu Dhabi based carrier said in a statement. It added that it hopes to expand cargo operations with Swissport at other destinations over time, in addition to enhancing cargo handling at more than 100 off-line Swissport destinations which Etihad Cargo offers in conjunction with partners.
“The Etihad Cargo-Swissport PHP deal will standardise the product and service we jointly deliver, strengthen our network operations, and enhance the reliability and quality of ground handling services to our customers,” Kevin Knight, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Etihad Airways, said in a statement.
Etihad Cargo serves 86 destinations internationally and operates a fleet of two Boeing B777F, one Boeing 747-400F, two Airbus A330-200F and one Airbus A300-600F. The company said it is due to take delivery of four additional freighters in 2013 and 2014, comprising one Boeing B777F, one Boeing 747-400ERF (wet-leased from KLM Cargo) and two Airbus A330-200F.
