UAE – Mubasher: Etihad Cargo has signed an agreement with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) to offer airfreight services to Australia, according to a press release on Thursday.

Under the agreement, Etihad cargo will supply the Australian market with main supplies and facilitate bi-directional exchange trading between the two countries to ensure the continuity of imports, namely food, to the UAE.

Etihad Cargo is benefitting from Etihad Airways passenger aircraft in its weekly services to Australia, expanding its network of 22 cargo-only passenger freighters which ensure the delivery of main supplies amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The managing director cargo and logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, remarked: “In this time of crisis, the facilitation of international trade and delivery of essential supplies is more important than ever. Australia has been a longtime and vital trading partner for the UAE and we are pleased to be able to continue to provide this lifeline connecting our countries."

Meanwhile, Australian Federal Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham, said: "Through the better coordination of freight out of Australia, we can restore key freight routes and establish more frequent flights to our key markets so our agricultural and fisheries exporters can deliver their products to customers on time."