Etihad and Unitpool provide Aerobox link

AeroBox ULDs are a revolutionary and innovative concept of containers, which use Aeroplaz, a special composite material for panel production. Compared with conventional containers, AeroBox containers provide higher damage resistance, are easier to repair and cheaper to maintain.

"The AeroBox containers will help us to further increase the safety of our operations, being more damage resistant," said Ingo Roessler, Vice President Cargo, Etihad Airways. "Together with the option to carry out on-site repairs in Abu Dhabi, we will also be able to operate more cost efficiently."

The new AeroBox containers arrived at Abu Dhabi International Airport last month, and were assembled from semi-constructed kits in Mussafah, an industrial area in the Abu Dhabi emirate.

Unitpool added Aerobox AKE containers to their growing ULD fleet in 2004, in response to rapidly increasing demand.

"Unitpool strives to provide its customers with the most innovative services available in the market. We added AeroBox to our product portfolio as they offer one of the most advantageous ULD containers currently available in the market," says Philip Hill, Chief Executive Officer at Unitpool.

The new concept was first introduced by AeroBox Composite Structures, a US company in late 2003.

"AeroBox Containers offer three advantages - the 3 Rs - Robustness, Repair-ability and Reduced life-cycle costs. The demand for the containers is very high, and we are looking at a production volume for 2006 which is ten times as high as 2005,"

said Ray Gibbs Group Managing Director of Aerobox.

The large order by Etihad Airways creates a strong link between three relatively new, but innovative and rapidly expanding, companies.

Etihad Airways was the first airline in the Middle East to contract Unitpool ULD pooling services, which were first introduced in 2002. In September 2005, Etihad Crystal Cargo signed a new long-term contract with Unitpool, continuing the successful partnership.