Etihad appoints Skybridge Networks in Bulgaria and Romania

Further integration of local airports planned

Etihad Crystal Cargo, the cargo division of Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, has appointed Skybridge Networks as its GSSA for both Bulgaria and Romania. It is the first time the airline’s cargo capacity has been marketed in the two countries.

Skybridge Networks has commenced road feeder services from Sofia and Bucharest, to connect with Etihad’s twice-daily A330 passenger flights from Frankfurt, daily passenger flights from Munich, and three weekly MD-11 freighter services from Frankfurt Hahn. The company is about to upgrade the road feeder service with increased frequencies and the addition of Timisoara to maximize the market catchments for Etihad.

Skybridge is also negotiating interline agreements with carriers serving Etihad’s various European gateways, that will see it offering a priority service for smaller shipments requiring shorter transit times. As part of this process, it also hopes to link Varna (regional airport in northeast Bulgaria) with the Etihad network by air.

Skybridge Networks expects strong support from both Bulgaria and Romania for Etihad’s network throughout the Middle East and Persian Gulf areas, Africa, India and Australia. Typical export commodities to these markets include machinery, spare parts, electronics, oil drilling equipment, textiles and pharmaceuticals.

Quelle: Pilot Marketing Services