The international air transport company will expand African route network

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Cargo has formed a new partnership with Astral Aviation that will expand Etihad's network of routes in Africa.

Under the new partnership, Astral will operate weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to its headquarters, Nairobi, before shipping cargo to other locations in the airline's African network. The first flights took place on March 21, but regular services are expected to begin on March 28.

Stanislas Brun, vice president of Etihad Cargo Department, said:"Etihad Cargo and Astral Airlines will jointly provide air cargo solutions to meet the dynamic needs of partners and customers, especially in the fast-growing African market."

"This collaboration marks an important milestone in trade between Africa and Abu Dhabi, as the new flights will allow perishable items including flowers, fresh fruit, vegetables and meat to be transported from hubs in Nairobi and Johannesburg to hubs in Abu Dhabi and into their networks," said Sanjeev Gadhia, chief executive of Astral Airlines.

"Upon return, this cargo plane will carry cargo from Etihad Cargo's cargo networks in Asia, the United States and Europe to Astral Airlines' intra-African network, which will bring new opportunities to our respective customers." From May 1, Etihad Cargo will also provide belly cabin capacity to Nairobi through daily passenger flights. 

这家国际空运公司将扩大非洲航线网络

       总部位于阿布扎比的阿提哈德货运公司(Etihad Cargo)与阿斯特拉航空(Astral Aviation)建立了新的合作伙伴关系，将扩大阿提哈德在非洲的航线网络。

       根据新的合作伙伴关系，Astral将每周运营从阿布扎比飞往其总部内罗毕的航班，然后将货物运送到该航空公司非洲网络的其他地点。首飞于3月21日进行，但常规服务预计将于3月28日开始。

       阿提哈德货运部副总裁Stanislas Brun表示：“阿提哈德货运和Astral Aviation将共同提供航空货运解决方案，以满足合作伙伴和客户的动态需求，特别是在快速增长的非洲市场。”

       阿斯特拉航空首席执行官Sanjeev Gadhia表示：“这场合作标志着非洲和阿布扎比之间贸易的一个重要里程碑，因为新航班将使包括鲜花、新鲜水果、蔬菜和肉类在内的易腐物品从内罗毕和约翰内斯堡的枢纽运输到阿布扎比枢纽，并进入他们的网络。”

       “返航后，这架货机将把阿提哈德货运公司在亚洲、美国和欧洲的货运网络中的货物运送到Astral的非洲内部网络中，这将为我们各自的客户带来新的机遇。”从5月1日起，阿提哈德货运还将通过每日客运航班提供飞往内罗毕的腹舱运力。