Etihad Cargo has expanded its freighter operation to France on the back of rising demand across “several strategic cargo verticals”.
The airline today announced that it has added a second weekly freighter flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in response to rising demand.
“Paris remains an important gateway within Etihad Cargo’s global network, supporting the movement of pharmaceuticals through PharmaLife, perishables through FreshForward, equine transportation via SkyStables, and cultural logistics through FlyCulture, which plays an important role in supporting museums and cultural institutions in Abu Dhabi and beyond,” Etihad said in a press release.
Etihad Cargo’s freighter fleet totals five Boeing 777 aircraft, while it has placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A350Fs.
The airline explained that the service expansion would strengthen connectivity between France, Abu Dhabi, and key markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East for customers moving “specialised and high-value cargo”.
Etihad Airways chief cargo officer Stanislas Brun said: “France has long been an important market for Etihad Cargo.
“The introduction of a second weekly freighter service to Paris shows both the strength of customer demand and our long-term goals for the region.
“As trade flows continue to evolve, our customers need greater flexibility, additional capacity, and reliable access to global markets.”
Etihad transported more than 26,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Paris last year.
In addition to the freighter flights, the airline also offers three daily passenger flights to Paris and a seasonal passenger service to Nice.
Etihad’s cargo business saw revenues and volumes rise last year to help the overall airline business to a record profit.
The airline saw cargo revenues increase by 8% year on year in 2025 to $1.2bn, while cargo volumes were up 9% to 703,000 tonnes.
The company said that its cargo business had benefited from capacity expansion, while its partnership with Chinese express giant SF Airlines also boosted performance.
