Freighter service begins to Hanoi, Vietnam

Etihad Cargo started freighter flights between Abu Dhabi and the Hanoi’s Nội Bài International Airport.

The dedicated cargo service will operate every Thursday and Sunday using an Airbus A330-200F freighter, with a capacity of 60 tonnes.

“Vietnam is an important market for Etihad Cargo, and our new twice-weekly Hanoi freighter service will build on our existing daily belly-hold operations to Ho Chi Minh City further south,” Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ chief strategy and planning officer, said.

Flights en route to Hanoi, Vietnam, will stop briefly in Mumbai, while the return service is direct to Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Cargo expects the new service to carry raw materials, consumer goods and perishables to Hanoi, with large quantities of electronics and textiles destined for the Gulf region, Europe and Africa loaded for the return flight.

“The service will allow us to capitalize on the strong import and export demand to and from Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia, while providing our growing customer base with more choice for transporting goods around the world,” Knight said. “In addition, while we expect to see strong onward trade flows over our Abu Dhabi cargo hub to destinations across the Middle East and Europe. Ultimately, this service will further strengthen the trade ties between the UAE and Vietnam.”