It was no surprise to find air cargo executives at the WCA Worldwide forwarders conference in Hong Kong lobbying for more shippers and forwarders to send their cargo via air, but the U.S. port congestion provided a helpful marketing tool.

The Middle East’s leading airlines made clear their common determination to boost passenger and freight market shares this weekend at the 2013 Dubai Airshow as they dominated the headlines with a series of huge orders for new airplanes.

Etihad Cargo expects to see strong cargo volume and revenue growth during the rest of 2013 despite the global downturn afflicting the air freight sector.

Etihad Airways is expanding its fleet with a Boeing 747-8 Freighter.

Etihad Crystal Cargo’s traffic soared 21 percent in the first half of 2012 from a year ago to a record 175,000 metric tons as the Abu Dhabi carrier expanded its all cargo-fleet and freighter net

Etihad Crystal Cargo’s freight traffic soared 18 percent in 2011 from a year ago as the fast-growing Abu Dhabi-based carrier boosted its capacity and added new freighter routes.

World Airways, a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings, extended into 2011 a contract to provide two MD-11 freighters to Etihad Crystal Cargo.