ETIHAD Cargo registered double-digit percentage improvements in both its revenues and profits last year as it expanded its network and added bellyhold capacity, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The airline said that last year cargo revenues had increased by 24.1 per cent year on year to US$1.3 billion while volumes for the year improved by 11.6 per cent to 646,000 tonnes.

The airline said the improvement in cargo revenues was fuelled by increased capacity and volume, alongside improved yields in the second half of the year.

This performance reflects that of the overall market that saw cargo traffic increase by 11.3 per cent.

Etihad last year continued to ramp up its network following the Covid pandemic and said it had added 20 new destinations and increased frequencies on 25 routes over the past two years.

The airline expanded its fleet last year to 97 aircraft - adding 12, including six Airbus A321neos and re-introducing a fifth A380.

The carrier added that it had also benefitted from a new partnership with express carrier SF Airlines.

Looking at overall performance across the business, the airline trebled its full-year net profit to $476 million, a record for the Abu Dhabi-based airline, while revenues improved by 25 per cent to $6.9 billion.