Africa’s largest airline will invest in services and infrastructure for cargo transportation. In doing so, it aims to become a logistics hub for the continent’s growing e-commerce market.
Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of the company, told Bloomberg that the company “is considering an order” for around five 777Fs. He did not rule out the possibility of also acquiring “some” A350F.
According to the specialized site ch-aviation, Ethiopian Airlines currently owns three B737-800SFs and nine B777-200Fs. It also uses at least six A350-900s and one DHC-8-Q400 in cargo-only operations. While the airline was rumored to be interested in the A220, Tewolde stressed that the plan was ” archived” indefinitely.
The carrier is also looking to expand its cargo operations in Addis Ababa. “We are building a new e-commerce warehouse in the cargo area of the airport,” the executive noted.
While Ethiopian has been a major player in the cargo sector for years, this position was consolidated during the pandemic. Freight during the past two years helped many airlines stay afloat. Cargo accounts for half of Ethiopian’s revenue, up from 15% before the Covid-19 outbreak.
