Etihad Cargo to introduce SmartTrack track-and-trace service

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways, is to introduce SmartTrack, a premium service that gives customers real-time access to shipment location and status data. Officially unveiled at Air Cargo Europe 2025 being held this week in Munich, Etihad Cargo will, it said, become the first carrier globally to implement this type of advanced smart tracking solution. SmartTrack will be available to customers via the Etihad Cargo website and mobile app from this October, as part of the airline's broader digital transformation strategy that is focused on "innovation, operational excellence and exceeding evolving customer expectations". SmartTrack was developed in partnership with San Diego, California-headquartered tracking and logistics solutions provider Tag-N-Trac. It uses smart label technology to deliver comprehensive end-to-end shipment monitoring capability, the label enabling cellular, GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, capturing real-time data on exact location, temperature and humidity, shock, tilt and light exposure. SmartTrack is thus well-suited to condition-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and high-value goods. The smart label can remain active for up to 30 days. It is to be fully integrated into Etihad Cargo's digital platform and mobile app and will offer customers a tailored, intuitive interface featuring live maps, milestone updates and access to full sensor data. It will be supported by Etihad Cargo's centralised control tower, which delivers 24/7 operational oversight and proactive performance monitoring. Transformational capability "This launch represents a transformation in how we deliver even more peace of mind to our customers," enthused Stanislas Brun, chief cargo officer at Etihad Airways. "By combining simplicity, intelligence and automation, we are reinforcing our commitment to smarter, more transparent logistics." Venu Gutlapalli, chief executive of Tag-N-Trac, added: "When Etihad Airways' cargo team asked us if we could deliver an air cargo visibility digital solution in three months, we were up for the challenge. "We knew we were setting a new standard in cargo visibility with our smart label-based RELATIVITY platform, empowering Etihad with the information they need, when they need it, across the globe." According to Etihad, SmartTrack has already been extensively field-tested across major global trade lanes, and has demonstrated "consistent, high-accuracy performance across both air and ground transport". Supporting capacity growth Etihad continues to ramp up capacity as well as its support service capability. In April, it announced that it had expanded its maindeck capacity by 18 percent to meet increasing demand in the Greater China market. Addtiional capacity was being made available in the form of a wet-leased Boeing 747-F. The extra capacity is expected to support "increased freight movements on high-demand routes and provide customers with greater flexibility in shipping cargo to and from key markets", the airline said. Those key markets include Europe as well as Asia, and Etihad Cargo added two additional weekly flights to London as well as three additional weekly freighter flights to Shenzhen. Brun noted at the time: "Etihad Cargo continues to invest in expanding its network and capacity to support the evolving needs of global trade."

Carriers on the hunt for open tonnage again as transpacific rates soar - The Loadstar

However, while shipowners want to lock operators in for long periods, the lines are not willing to commit beyond two to three months, fearing ... Help us to continue to invest in award-winning independent journalism. For an introductory offer of just £70 a year, or £10 per month, get access to all our daily news stories and opinion. If you are already a registered user, please login below with your current account's email and password to subscribe. If you are not registered and want to subscribe, please register below to subscribe.

Maastricht Aachen Airport agrees deal with ECS Livestock

From left to right: Joost Meijs, chief executive of Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST); Eric Peeters, head of ground handling at MST; Dean Boljuncic, head of commercial development at MST; Edwin Hofstede, chief executive of ECS Livestock; and Pascale De Mieter, cargo sales executive at MST In the latest news from the Air Cargo Europe trade show being held in Munich, Germany, this week (June 2-4), Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) has announced a new partnership with equine transport specialist ECS Livestock. The deal will see the Netherlands' second-largest air cargo hub become the "preferred airport for horse transport" in the country, it said. According to the terms of the deal, which is effective immediately, ECS Livestock will move horses through the airport's AnimalPort Netherlands, an airside facility fully equipped to handle the safe and animal-friendly transportation of horses. Dean Boljuncic, head of commercial development at MST, said: "Handling horses is an international mark of quality for our airport. "If you can handle live animals safely and efficiently, it proves the high standards of your cargo operations." He went on: "Alongside pharma and chilled goods, live animals are delicate cargo that require careful handling. "Thanks to the extensive experience and expertise of our cargo team, this is something we can deliver at MST." The AnimalPort Netherlands facility can accommodate between 26 and 32 horses and features a flexible floor system that gives good grip for animals. Last year, the facility was freshly equipped with amenities such as a dressing room, hygiene lock and washing stations. There will be follow-on benefits for other airport cargo stakeholders resulting from this deal. "A cargo aircraft rarely transports only horses," Boljuncic pointed out. "Airlines often combine horse shipments with other freight and this will create new routes from MST, which will benefit the local cargo community. "The more routes we have, the more opportunities to ship our clients' cargo worldwide via MST and several airlines have already expressed interest in using MST for horse transport." Specialist in horse transport ECS Livestock has over 23 years of experience in the air transport of horses and, according to chief executive Edwin Hofstede: "AnimalPort Netherlands at MST is a modern and animal-friendly facility with ample capacity for handling live animals, particularly horses." "Together with the airport, we are exploring the possibility of further expanding the capacity by reconfiguring the layout, to improve flexibility and optimise the use of the AnimalPort in the future." This deal is further good news for MST; just yesterday (June 2), Air Cargo News reported that the current Emirates SkyCargo weekly freighter service connecting Dubai World Central (DWC) airport, MST and Zaragoza Airport in Spain will now also stop in Beirut, Lebanon, before its return to Dubai. General cargo and pharmaceuticals are expected to make up much of the airfreight flown into Beirut on the service out of Maastricht Aachen.