What Etihad Cargo does

Etihad Cargo is the cargo and logistics division of Etihad Airways PJSC, the national airline of the UAE incorporated in Abu Dhabi by Emiri Decree. Established in 2004 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the business operates a mixed fleet of six dedicated Boeing 777 freighters (including capacity secured from Atlas Air) plus belly capacity across the Etihad Airways fleet of 100+ passenger aircraft, complemented by regional trucking between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Dammam, Kuwait, and Muscat. Its network spans six continents via the Abu Dhabi hub, and the company reported FY2025 revenue of AED 4.5 billion (~$1.2 billion), up 8% year-on-year, on 703,000 leg tonnes, up 9%.

The product portfolio combines standard freight services (general cargo, dangerous goods, repatriation, postal) with nine specialized verticals: PharmaLife (pharmaceuticals, IATA CEIV Pharma and GDP-certified with 2,350+ certified trade lanes), FreshForward (IATA CEIV Fresh perishables), SkyStables (horses), LiveAnimals, FlightValet (vehicles), FlyCulture (art and valuables), SafeGuard (high-value goods), SecureTech (IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries), and AirMail. Supporting services include Charter Services (bespoke Boeing 777-200F charters), FastTrack (priority late-acceptance express), and SmartTrack (AI-powered real-time shipment visibility with temperature, humidity, shock, tilt, and light sensor monitoring, developed with Tag-N-Trac). The Excellence Hub, launched in February 2026, is positioned as the air cargo industry's first airline-led logistics training academy using AI-enabled personalized learning.

The business model is predominantly transactional/usage-based revenue from freight rates negotiated per shipment and per route, supplemented by recurring add-on revenues from SmartTrack visibility subscriptions and digital services. Go-to-market combines a direct enterprise sales force (including a dedicated charter sales team), a network of General Sales Agents and freight forwarder partners for mid-market and long-tail shippers, and digital channels (online booking portal, mobile app, e-AWB, Cargo iQ). Reported partnerships include a Joint Business Agreement with SF Airlines (making Etihad Cargo the largest cargo operator between mainland China and the Middle East), a freighter alliance with Teleport for Southeast Asia, a hybrid VTOL exploration with LODD Autonomous, and a Global Air Carrier Services Agreement with EDGE for UAE defense logistics. The customer base spans pharmaceutical manufacturers, freight forwarders, shippers and consignees across pharma, perishables, equine, high-value, automotive, e-commerce, dangerous goods, and humanitarian verticals.

Name

Etihad Cargo

Legal name

Etihad Airways PJSC

Website

https://etihadcargo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Etihad Cargo is the cargo and logistics division of Etihad Airways, operating dedicated Boeing 777 freighters and passenger belly capacity from Abu Dhabi across six continents. It serves pharmaceutical, perishable, equine, high-value, automotive, and e-commerce shippers via nine specialized verticals, digital booking, and charter services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Cargo Logistics

NAICS

Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Air Courier Services (4513)

akta.pro primary industry

Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers) (THABAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Belly-Cargo Operators (Passenger Airline Freight Divisions) (THABAEAE), Perishables & Fresh Produce Forwarding (Food/Seafood/Floral) (TLACAJAA), Air Cargo Visibility (AWB Milestones & Track-and-Trace) (TLAEADAG), High-Value & Secure Air Cargo (Valuables, Security Screening, Escort) (TLACAAAH), E-commerce Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAK), Air Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAE)

Keywords

• Air freight services
• Pharmaceutical logistics
• Cargo charter operations
• Specialized cargo handling
• Freight forwarding

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Air Freight Transportation: Core revenue from transporting cargo via dedicated freighter fleet and passenger aircraft belly capacity across a global network spanning Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. Revenue grew 8% YoY to AED 4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2025.
2. Specialized Cargo Verticals: Revenue from specialized product verticals including PharmaLife (pharmaceuticals), FreshForward (perishables), LiveAnimals, SkyStables (horses), SafeGuard (high-value goods), SecureTech (electronics), FlightValet (vehicles), FlyCulture (art and valuables), AirMail (postal), and FastTrack (express).
3. Charter Services: Bespoke charter services using dedicated Boeing 777-200F freighters across the global network, including access to offline destinations, for sectors such as humanitarian relief, outsize cargo, oil and gas, automotive, dangerous goods, events, and high-value commodities.
4. Trucking and Ground Services: Trucking services from Abu Dhabi across Dubai, Bahrain, Dammam, Kuwait, and Muscat, as well as from European and North American gateways to key destinations within respective continents.
5. Digital Services and e-Freight: Revenue supported by digital platforms including online booking, e-AWB, electronic monitoring devices, and the SmartTrack real-time visibility solution, which enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Etihad Cargo is the cargo and logistics division of Etihad Aviation Group, providing air freight transportation across a global network spanning six continents via a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter fleet and over 100 passenger aircraft belly capacity. It operates nine specialized product verticals—PharmaLife (pharmaceuticals), FreshForward (perishables), SkyStables (horses), LiveAnimals (pets and conservation), FlightValet (vehicles), FlyCulture (art and valuables), SafeGuard (high-value cargo), SecureTech (electronics), and AirMail (postal)—alongside general cargo, dangerous goods, charter, and repatriation services. Real-time shipment visibility is delivered through the SmartTrack smart-label platform, supported by dedicated temperature-controlled infrastructure, GPS tracking, and a 24/7 Control Centre.

Product overview

Etihad Cargo is the cargo and logistics division of Etihad Airways (UAE national airline), operating as a multi-specialist air cargo platform offering both standard cargo services (general cargo, dangerous goods, repatriation) and nine specialized product verticals. The specialized verticals include PharmaLife (pharmaceuticals with active and passive sub-services), FreshForward (perishables), SkyStables (horses), LiveAnimals (pets and conservation), FlightValet (vehicles), FlyCulture (art and valuables), SafeGuard (precious items), SecureTech (electronics), and AirMail (postal). Supporting services include SmartTrack (real-time monitoring), FastTrack (express shipping), Charter Services (dedicated freighter flights), and the Excellence Hub (training academy). The portfolio is managed through a global network spanning Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Middle East via Abu Dhabi's hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PharmaLife Specialist pharmaceutical and life sciences logistics service offering active and passive temperature-controlled shipping solutions. As the first CEIV Pharma-certified carrier in the Middle East with full GDP compliance, it operates from Abu Dhabi's Life Sciences Gateway with real-time visibility and connections to over 2,350 CEIV and GDP Pharma-certified trade lanes. Available across 70+ destinations with active containers maintaining -80°C to +30°C and passive solutions for COL, CRT, and ERT ranges.
• FreshForward Specialist perishable goods service for transporting fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, and flowers. As the first Middle Eastern carrier and second worldwide to hold the IATA CEIV Fresh certificate, it provides expedited ramp handling, temperature-controlled storage, and priority transport with compliance with food safety protocols including HACCP.
• SkyStables Specialist horse transport service featuring dedicated Product Managers, 24/7 on-call vet support, up to 25 certified air stalls on B777 freighters, and in-house EU inspection facilities for seamless customs clearance.
• SecureTech Specialist electronic device transport service for mobile phones, computers, screens, and lithium battery-powered products. IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries certified with priority loading, specialized handling, secure storage, and continuous security monitoring.
• LiveAnimals Live animal transport service offering customized solutions from family pets to global conservation projects, featuring climate-controlled pressurized compartments, trained staff, and compliance with IATA Live Animal guidelines. Service has transported over 600 pets worldwide.
• FlightValet High-value vehicle transport service for rare classics, supercars, and automobiles using passenger and freighter aircraft with fast airport-to-airport service, dedicated UAE point of contact, trained staff, and charter availability for large fleets. Vertical grew 174% in 2025.
• FlyCulture Bespoke cargo solution for rare and high-value artworks, paintings, sculptures, and musical instruments featuring temperature-controlled storage, trained specialists, SmartTrack monitoring as standard, and courier accompaniment option for large freighter shipments. Vertical grew 89% in 2025.
• SafeGuard Premium valuable cargo service for luxury watches, gold, diamonds, and precious items featuring vaulted storage, sealed containers, 24/7 surveillance, priority handling, armed escorts, and first/final mile delivery through Etihad affiliates.
• AirMail Fast, reliable airport-to-airport postal service for UPU mail covering documents and parcels to over 100 destinations worldwide, with express delivery options and EDI system integration for CARDIT and RESDIT data exchange.
• SmartTrack Real-time shipment visibility service using cellular, GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi smart labels with advanced sensors for temperature, humidity, shock, tilt, and light monitoring. World-first in air cargo, with 24/7 Control Centre monitoring and custom customer dashboard with proactive alerts. Developed in partnership with Tag-N-Trac.
• FastTrack Airport-to-airport express service for time-sensitive shipments offering priority capacity, late acceptance (cut-off three hours before departure), early cargo retrieval, guaranteed booking, premium handling, and instant shipment updates with no maximum weight restrictions.
• General Cargo Standard cargo service for boxes, bags, small furniture, and personal items using air freight methods, compliant with IATA regulations and earning Etihad Guest Miles.
• Dangerous Goods Worldwide dangerous goods shipping service handled by trained experts compliant with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, featuring secure monitored storage and complete documentation support.
• Charter Services Bespoke charter service using dedicated fleet of Boeing 777-200F freighters (102,800kg capacity, 9,000km range) for humanitarian relief, outsized and heavy cargo, remote destinations, oil and gas, automotive, dangerous goods, events logistics, and high-value commodities. Dedicated charter sales team provides round-the-clock support and bespoke pricing on a per-flight basis.
• Repatriation Services Global repatriation service for cremated and human remains including paperwork, authority liaison, preparation, packaging, and air transport with dedicated storage facility in Abu Dhabi.
• Excellence Hub Air cargo industry's first logistics training academy established by an airline, providing mandatory and elective training for Etihad Cargo representatives and global partners. Features AI-enabled personalized learning, gamification, podcasts, masterclasses, industry-certified programmes, and executive education including miniMBA. Operates as a foundational pillar of Etihad Cargo's global growth strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue increased 8% year-on-year to AED 4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• EDGEmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 May 2026Global Air Carrier Services Agreement signed at Make it in the Emirates (MIITE 2026), consolidating EDGE's airfreight operations under the UAE's national carrier. This is a significant corporate account consolidating defense and aerospace logistics under Etihad Cargo.
• SF AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Joint Business Agreement expanding shared network with additional flights to Shenzhen and Ezhou, enhancing logistics links between Abu Dhabi and China for cross-border e-commerce and pharmaceutical shipments. This partnership made Etihad Cargo the largest cargo operator between mainland China and the Middle East.
• TeleportminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Launch of new freighter service from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, expanding Southeast Asia network during winter 2025, utilizing Airbus A321F aircraft twice weekly to support Cambodia's import/export sectors including garments, electronics, perishables, and pharmaceuticals.
• LODD AutonomousminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Partnership to test and explore the operational and commercial potential of integrating 'Hili' hybrid VTOL aircraft into Etihad Cargo's fleet for point-to-point transfers across the UAE, targeting middle-mile cargo movement in the Middle East and India where infrastructure constraints create regional logistics bottlenecks.
• Atlas AircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 February 2025Dedicated Boeing 777 freighter capacity secured through Atlas Air, bringing Etihad Cargo's total dedicated freighter fleet to six aircraft, expanding global freighter services to multiple hubs.
• HELM (Life Sciences Gateway)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025Co-founder of Abu Dhabi's Life Sciences Gateway (HELM), a pharmaceutical logistics platform providing GDP-compliant cool chain corridors and serving global pharmaceutical leaders from Abu Dhabi's hub.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Emirates SkyCargo: Emirates SkyCargo is the cargo arm of Emirates airline, operating out of Dubai with a comparable global freighter network and similar focus on specialized verticals including pharma (Emirates Pharma), perishables, and high-value cargo. Direct regional competitor to Etihad Cargo given shared Gulf hub positioning.
• Qatar Airways Cargo: Qatar Airways Cargo operates from Hamad International Airport as part of Qatar Airways Group, with a comparable dedicated freighter fleet, CEIV Pharma certification, and similar routes focused on pharma, perishables, and live animals across a global network. Direct Gulf competitor with overlapping customer base.
• Saudia Cargo: Saudia Cargo is the cargo division of Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines), operating dedicated freighters from Jeddah and Riyadh with similar regional focus on pharma, perishables, and live animal transport. Regional Gulf competitor in adjacent Saudi market.
• Cathay Cargo: Cathay Cargo is the freight division of Cathay Pacific, operating from Hong Kong with a comparable mix of dedicated freighters and belly capacity on a global network. Particularly comparable on Asia–Europe lanes and pharma specialization, overlapping with Etihad on key trade corridors.
• Singapore Airlines Cargo: SIA Cargo operates dedicated Boeing 747 freighters and belly capacity across a global network from its Singapore hub, with specialized pharma and perishables capabilities and comparable digital booking/visibility platforms. Comparable Asia-based carrier with similar vertical segmentation.
• Lufthansa Cargo: Lufthansa Cargo is the dedicated air freight division of Lufthansa Group, operating from Frankfurt with a global freighter network, CEIV Pharma certifications, and similar specialized product verticals. Comparable European-focused major cargo carrier with similar vertical mix.
• Korean Air Cargo: Korean Air Cargo operates dedicated freighters and belly capacity from Incheon with global reach, similar specializations in perishables, live animals, and high-value cargo. Comparable Asia-based passenger-airline cargo division with overlapping product structure.
• Cargolux: Cargolux is a Luxembourg-based all-cargo airline operating a fleet of dedicated Boeing 747 freighters with global reach and CEIV Pharma certification. Comparable all-cargo specialist with similar freighter-only business model and pharma/perishables specialization.
• Turkish Cargo: Turkish Cargo is the freight division of Turkish Airlines, operating from Istanbul with one of the largest dedicated freighter fleets globally and a comprehensive specialized product portfolio including pharma and perishables. Regional competitor with overlapping network and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Express: FedEx Express operates the world's largest air express cargo network with dedicated freighters and integrated ground handling. Comparable as a global scale air cargo player with similar express and time-sensitive capabilities, though operating an integrator model rather than Etihad's airline-belly plus freighter model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/etihad-cargo

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Etihad Cargo