Ethiopian Airlines takes delivery of first B737-800 freighter

Ethiopian Airlines, the Largest Aviation Group in Africa, has taken delivery of its first B737-800 freighter, in addition to its fleet of cargo freighters.

Ethiopian Airline’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, made the announcement in a statement on Friday.

GabreMariam said that the arrival of the new freighter was a significant addition that would propel both the capacity and frequency of the airline’s operation.

He stated that the B-737-800 Freighter would give the airline a new capability to serve short haul destinations in African and the Middle East more economically, which includes the export of Ethiopian meat, fruits and vegetables to the Gulf Region.

“As per our strategic roadmap, Vision 2025, we will keep introducing new systems and technologies and play an indispensable role to the socio-economic development of Ethiopia and Africa at large.

“We are excited to have taken delivery of the newest freighter a few days after being crowned with ‘African Cargo Airline of the Year’ and ‘Air Cargo Brand of the Year in Africa’ Awards for the fourth year in a row.

“Developed with the industry’s most efficient and reliable technology, the new B737-800 freighter aircraft, is the newest member of the freighter family and offers greatest efficiency for the standard-body freighter market,” he said.

GabreMariam said that the freighter had a carrying capacity of more than 23 metric tons of payload, with excellent operating economics to maximize efficiency for cargo operations.

He, however, added that the Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services operates dedicated freighters from its Africa’s largest trans-shipment terminal in Addis Ababa.

According to him, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services delivers cargo services spanning across 44 international destinations in Africa, the Gulf, Middle East, Asia, the Americas and Europe, augmenting the export of perishables from Africa and import of high value goods.

“By 2025, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services envisions to become a full-fledged profit centre of Ethiopian Airlines Group with annual revenue of $2 billion, 19 dedicated aircraft, annual tonnage of 820,000, and 57 international destinations,” he said.