Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has enhanced its cool chain capabilities in the US through the expansion of the carrier’s network with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group. Etihad Cargo’s customers will benefit from consistent end-to-end cargo services via the carrier’s PharmaLife and FreshForward products in addition to the cargo handling facilities and services offered by WFS at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Etihad Cargo recently expanded its network with WFS to incorporate all the carrier’s US stations. Before adding Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the carrier partnered with WFS in New York and Washington to ensure Etihad Cargo’s robust quality standards are maintained throughout the cargo’s entire journey. In both New York and Washington, WFS operates specialised facilities for the handling of perishables and pharmaceutical commodities.
At JFK, two cool rooms provide storage for perishables and pharmaceuticals requiring temperatures of between +2 to +8 and +15 to +25 degrees Celsius. The JFK facility also features a ramp area located immediately behind the building and organised ULD storage area with a new racking system, making the handling of cargo more seamless.
The WFS Washington facilities include a 60,000-square-foot warehouse and perishables, pharmaceuticals and live animals capabilities. In recent months, Etihad Cargo has increased volumes of its premium product range transported into and out of Washington.
As the latest station to be added to Etihad Cargo’s network with WFS, the cargo handler’s facilities at Chicago O’Hare International Airport include a new state-of-the-art on-airport facility and off-airport location. The new facility features a fully temperature-controlled warehouse with a Controlled Room Temperature (CRT) environment that maintains a constant temperature of between +15 to +25 degrees Celsius in addition to a dedicated 3000-square-metre +2 to +8 degrees Celsius cool room, which holds 120 skid and 10 ULD positions. The facility offers 37 active container charging stations and export, import, dangerous goods and cooler staging areas.
Etihad Cargo has demonstrated its commitment to quality, becoming the first Middle Eastern airline to achieve IATA CEIV Pharma, Fresh and Live Animals certifications. The airline has gone on to enhance its eight-strong premium product offering with the introduction of new features, including specialised thermal covers, the development of over 1,330 IATA CEIV / GDP pharma trade lanes and the adoption of digital tools to support the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global air cargo hub, with a strong focus on pharmaceuticals and life sciences products.
