Eric Kulisch
5 min read
Etihad Airways has enlisted U.S.-based Western Global Airlines, still struggling to recover after exiting bankruptcy 18 months ago, to support expanded freighter service to China and London by operating a Boeing 747-400 on its behalf, FreightWaves has learned.
The airline’s cargo division in April announced it was adding three weekly all-cargo flights to Shenzhen, China, and two weekly flights to London Stansted Airport via its Abu Dhabi hub to meet growing demand on key trade lanes. Etihad Cargo, which operates five Boeing 777 freighters and manages belly cargo carried by passenger aircraft, said it was supplementing its capacity with a wet-leased 747 cargo jet from an unnamed provider to carry e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, perishables and other goods between Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
After several weeks of delay, Etihad appears ready to commence the new freighter service.
Etihad Cargo officials declined to identify the airline providing the outsourced transportation service, but an email response from a media representative inadvertently included program details from someone else in the company who was copied on a reporter’s query.
According to the message, Etihad has signed a contract with Western Global. FreightWaves has known about the arrangement for a month but waited to publish a story until there were signs that service had materialized. As of early June, the new freighter services had yet to commence, flight tracking data shows.
But a Boeing 747-400 operated by Western Global landed on Tuesday at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, according to Flightradar24. An industry source, who asked not to be identified to protect ongoing business relationships, confirmed the presence of the Western Global freighter in Shenzhen.
The Western Global capacity will give Etihad Cargo 17 weekly freighter rotations per week, up from the current 14, to China, with one more flight expected to be added later this year, according to company officials. Etihad finished last year with 11 direct flights to China. The goal for 18 freighter flights per week is down from the 23 planned flights Etihad promised in January.
Western Global Airlines operates three Boeing 747-400 freighters. Etihad Cargo has signed a turnkey lease with Western Global for a dedicated aircraft and crews to fly on its behalf to China and the United Kingdom. (Photo: Shutterstock/Suparat Chairatprasert)</em><br>" height="540" loading="eager" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==" width="960">
Privately held Western Global early this decade had a fleet of 21 freighter aircraft. It reorganized under bankruptcy protection in 2023 because of falling revenues as freight markets normalized from pandemic highs, a high debt load and rising maintenance costs for its aging fleet. The company now operates seven freighters. Only four of its 17 MD-11 cargo jets are currently in service, according to aircraft databases.
