Etihad Crystal Cargo, a division of Etihad Airways, has been awarded the quality certification by the industry body, “Cargo 2000,” after six months of rigorous testing.

With this, Etihad Crystal Cargo becomes the first carrier in the Middle East region to receive Cargo 2000 certification, an industry initiative, supported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to implement a new quality management system for the worldwide air cargo industry.

The objective is to implement processes, backed by quality standards that are measurable to improve the efficiency of air cargo. It also re-engineers the end-to-end air cargo transportation process from shipper to consignee, Etihad said in a statement.

Individual processes in the supply chain are simplified and reduced in number, cutting down on operational costs and enhancing customer service, it added.

To gain the certification four of Etihad Crystal Cargo’s global key account customers were tested during the past six months at six airports across the world – Abu Dhabi, Paris, Sydney, Frankfurt, Bangkok and Munich, a top official said.

Des Vertannes, Etihad Airways’ executive vice president cargo, said: “Etihad Crystal Cargo continues to improve the efficiency and services of our operations and we are proud to be the first carrier in the Middle East region to be awarded Cargo 2000 certification.'

“Streamlining business operations is vital to any organisation, particularly in this current economic climate, and Etihad fully embraces IATA’s goals both in Cargo 2000 and e-freight through use of technology and processes to make this possible,” he added.

Etihad Crystal Cargo recently chose Descartes as its Cargo 2000 cargo data management platform (CDMP) provider to support its drive towards gaining certification and the future compliance with business process and automation standards established by IATA.

Lothar Moehle, regional director Europe, Middle East and Africa, Cargo 2000, said: “The Cargo 2000 certification is a great achievement for Etihad Crystal Cargo and we look forward to it meeting the requirements across the rest of its network.”-TradeArabia News Service