Ethiopian Airlines has inaugurated a new cargo service connecting Addis Ababa to Urumqi, marking a significant expansion of air freight links between Africa and China.
The route, launched is the first direct cargo connection between Africa and northwest China, and is expected to boost trade and economic integration between the two regions. Dereje Derero, Managing Director of Cargo and Logistics Services at Ethiopian Airlines, described the route as a “pivotal freight corridor,” enhancing Addis Ababa’s role as a global logistics hub and strengthening the airline’s presence in Asia. Urumqi becomes the 11th Chinese city served by Ethiopian’s cargo network.
Strategic market
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates over 190 weekly flights to 27 destinations in Asia, including 83 weekly passenger and cargo flights to China alone. Dereje highlighted China as a key strategic market, noting the airline’s intent to increase frequencies and expand routes in support of growing trade flows.
Transporting nearly one million tonnes of cargo annually, Ethiopian Airlines continues to invest in modern infrastructure and temperature-controlled logistics systems. The new service aligns with its Vision 2035 strategy, which aims to position the airline among the world’s top 20 aviation groups.