Etihad Cargo has started prioritising perishable items going through its Abu Dhabi hub.
The firm has launched a cold chain service that will prioritise the transfer of perishable cargo from aircraft into dedicated centres.
The airline will also offer last-mile delivery of perishable goods that come in through its hub.
Etihad Cargo, a devision of Etihad Airways, said the service, called FreshForward, will support the UAE’s cold chain industry and would ensure goods including fish, vegetables, dairy, fresh fruit, and flowers, moved “seamlessly across” the firm's distribution network.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Etihad Airways managing director for cargo and logistics, said: “Etihad Cargo plays a vital role in stimulating the UAE’s imports and exports via our Abu Dhabi hub.
“Safe, efficient and timely transport is critical for the UAE’s major importers of fresh produce including supermarket chains, [food and beverage] wholesalers, restaurants and florists.”
Etihad said it transported more than 90,000 tons of perishable goods over the last 12 months, of which fruits and vegetables made up more than 37% of the total. It also shipped 15,000 tons of meat, 19,000 tons of flowers and 8,000 tons of fish.
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