Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, has taken delivery of its first A300-600 freighter and will launch additional cargo services at the beginning of February, the airline announced yesterday.

"At Etihad we strive to meet the growing needs of our region for better cargo services and are pleased to add the A300-600 to our fleet," said Etihad Chairman Shaikh Dr Ahmad Bin Saif Al Nahyan.

"Our objective is to build upon the success of Crystal Cargo as one of the world's leading carriers. We believe our reputation will be enhanced even further by making the most of the A300-600."

Etihad Airways said that the delivery of this aircraft has increased its ability to provide cargo services to Frankfurt and Amman.

The A300-600 has become one of the industry's best selling freighter aircraft.

The aircraft has great "interlining" capabilities, meaning it is an ideal regional carrier with a 141 inch-wide cargo door and all of the systems required for cargo jobs.

Etihad's new plane has a payload capacity of 47 tonnes and a range of up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 kilometres).

In just one year since its inaugural flight, Etihad Crystal Cargo has established a reputation for its rapid growth and firm determination to build a national cargo carrier operating out of Abu Dhabi that rivals the world's best international carriers.

It has earned respect for its level of service and dedication to go beyond customer expectations.