Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Miami Beach at TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum 2026, establishing a framework for collaboration to strengthen international air cargo connectivity and support the growth of aviation-related trade. The agreement creates opportunities for the organisations to exchange market insights, explore joint initiatives and identify opportunities to expand air cargo and passenger activity, supporting Virginia’s broader strategy to strengthen Washington Dulles International Airport as a competitive global air cargo gateway, particularly for high-value and time-sensitive supply chains serving the pharmaceutical, perishables, energy, data centre and cloud computing industries.

Etihad Cargo’s experience across specialised cargo segments complements the areas of focus identified under the MOU, including its dedicated PharmaLife and FreshForward products supporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and perishables, alongside broader capabilities in handling high-value, time-sensitive and specialised cargo.

“Virginia is home to industries with highly specialised logistics requirements, from pharmaceuticals and perishables to technology and data centre infrastructure. Etihad Cargo’s experience in handling temperature-sensitive, high-value and time-critical shipments gives us a strong foundation to contribute practical cargo expertise to this collaboration. Through the MOU with VEDP, we look forward to exchanging knowledge and exploring opportunities that strengthen international air cargo connectivity through Washington Dulles,” said Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer at Etihad Airways.

“The value of an air cargo gateway isn’t measured simply by the freight moving through it, but by the investment and economic activity it enables,” said Eric Jehu, Vice President of Logistics at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “Virginia is building the logistics capabilities and strategic partnerships that allow our industries to compete in global markets. Our collaboration with Etihad Cargo represents another important step toward connecting Virginia businesses to global opportunities and strengthening the Commonwealth’s position as a gateway for international trade.”

Note: Since its establishment in 2004, Etihad Cargo says it has grown to become one of the world’s leading air cargo carriers, strategically based in Abu Dhabi and among a select few global airlines to hold all four IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certifications for Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals and Lithium Batteries.