Dubai: Etihad Crystal Cargo, the cargo division of Etihad Airways, has appointed Khimji Ramdas Shipping to set up cargo operations in Oman.
Khimji Ramdas Shipping will provide cargo sales, customer service and support functions for Etihad Crystal Cargo. The Ground Handling will be done by Oman Aviation Services.
Etihad Airways announced in February that it will launch daily services between Abu Dhabi and Muscat on 26 March 2006.
"The Abu Dhabi-Muscat route offers an interesting perspective for cargo being transported on Etihad's fast growing network. There is a huge demand for perishable cargo coming out of Oman destined for the USA, Central Europe and the Far East," said Ingo Roessler, vice-president of Etihad Crystal Cargo.
"The team of Khimji Ramdas Shipping offers quality services that will help us to establish fast in the Oman market and offering an interesting alternative to other carriers. Our strategy to outsource all sales and services to a local GSSA team has proven to be highly efficient in the past," said Roessler.
"We are excited with our new partnership with Etihad Crystal Cargo. We believe that combining our local expertise and resource with the tools Etihad Crystal Cargo provides us with, we can offer the air cargo market in Oman an interesting product" said M.C. Jose, General Manager of the Projects and Logistics Group for Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC.
According to the GCC Secretariat General Information Centre, the UAE is by far Oman's largest trading partner.
The latest figures for 2001 released by the GCC Information Centre show that a massive 85.5 per cent of (intra-GCC) imports and 78 per cent of exports come to and from the UAE.
