In September, witnessed by Wang Wei, Chairman of SF Holdings, and Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Etihad Airways, SF Airlines and Etihad Airways signed a memorandum of understanding in Shenzhen, formally clarifying the plan to establish a joint venture. Through this joint venture project, the two companies will further integrate resource advantages, deepen cooperation in the field of air cargo, and create more comprehensive logistics solutions for global customers.

As one of the rich airlines in the Middle East, Etihad Airways has strong financial resources. So far, it has 108 aircraft, including 50 A380 aircraft and 5 B777 freighters. In fact, in 2023, SF Airlines has already begun to cooperate with Etihad Cargo to operate international cargo routes, strengthening the connectivity of the two sides’ route networks through cabin exchange, intermodal transport, etc., to achieve resource sharing and complementary advantages.
In July 2024, the two sides will increase the frequency of cargo flights between Ezhou and Shenzhen and Abu Dhabi, UAE, with a weekly domestic outbound air transport capacity of more than 600 tons, which will continue to help deepen China-UAE economic and trade cooperation and the “Belt and Road” initiative. The signing of this cooperation marks the start of SF Airlines’ comprehensive strategic cooperation with Etihad Cargo. Based on the establishment of the joint venture, the two sides will achieve more breakthroughs in aircraft capacity deployment, transportation schedule optimization, route network expansion, and international business integration.
Wang Wei, Chairman of SF Holdings, said: “This joint venture is a pioneering development in the field of air cargo logistics between China and the UAE. By working with Etihad Airways Cargo, we are setting new standards for the industry, especially to meet the growing demand for e-commerce, air mail and parcel delivery.”
SF Airlines is the first private express airline in China and the largest air cargo company in China. This is mainly due to its strong fleet of all-cargo aircraft and the “hub-and-spoke” route network built on the basis of Ezhou Huahu Airport. Through technological innovation and service optimization, it continues to improve its competitiveness in the field of air cargo.