Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways' cargo unit has contracted US operator World Airways to provide Boeing MD-11 freighter service linking Frankfurt, Shanghai and Mumbai.

Financial details of the one-year contract between Etihad Crystal Cargo and the Global Aero Logistics subsidiary have not been disclosed.

"Etihad Airways is a successful, rapidly expanding airline, and World Airways is proud to be providing international cargo capacity for them with our wide-body MD-11 freighter fleet," says World chief marketing officer Rob Binns in a statement.

Etihad Crystal Cargo was launched in 2004 and introduced all-cargo services in February 2005. It currently operates a fleet of regional freighter aircraft and two Airbus A300-600RF aircraft.