Equipped with a 23,000-square-metre cargo terminal and a 700,000-square-metre freight transit centre, the airport serves as a gateway for air trade between China and the rest of the world.
The airport is expected to open ten international cargo routes and 50 domestic routes by 2025, with an annual cargo and mail throughput of 2.45 million tonnes.
The new freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou will enable Etihad Cargo to meet increased demand for cargo capacity out of China as well as give other customers greater accessibility to 25 domestic Chinese destinations.
It follows the carrier's reciprocal block space agreement with SF Airlines to increase cargo capacity between China and the rest of the world via Etihad Cargo's hub in Abu Dhabi.
SF Airlines benefits from Etihad Cargo's global network for its express product.
Leonard Rodrigues, Head of Revenue Management, Fleet and Network at Etihad Cargo, said: "The commencement of a weekly freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou opens up new interline opportunities with Etihad Cargo's partner SF Airlines and will enable the carrier to further expand its reach into the Chinese market, which is a key region to the airline and Etihad Cargo's customers and partners."
"Ezhou Huahu Airport strongly supports SF’s domestic and international operations. By growing with Ezhou Huahu Airport, we believe it will bring more opportunities and value to the cooperation between SF Airlines and Etihad Cargo,” said Robert Zhang, Commercial Director of SF Airlines.
Luo Guowei, Party Secretary and Chairman of Hubei International Logistics Airport Co. Ltd., said: “We are delighted to witness the inaugural launch of Etihad Cargo's freighter flight to Ezhou Huahu Airport, marking the commencement of freighter services between Abu Dhabi and Ezhou."