Ethiopian Cargo, the freight arm of Ethiopian Airlines, has inaugurated direct Boeing 777 freighter service between Urumqi, China, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The new route, operating two to three times weekly, enhances the strategic air cargo connectivity between Western China and Africa under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The maiden flight, operated by a Boeing 777 freighter registered as ET-ARJ, departed Urumqi Tianshan International Airport (URC) on June 27 at approximately 10:04 hrs and landed at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) at 12:13 hrs local time, completing the journey in 7 hours and 9 minutes. The aircraft carried 105 tonnes of cargo, underscoring the capacity and efficiency of the new service.
Air cargo corridor
Aman Wole, Ethiopian Airlines’ Country Director for Mainland China and Mongolia, described the launch as “more than a direct link”, emphasizing its role as a “strategic leap” in Sino-African logistics and a key milestone in Xinjiang’s integration into global trade routes. He noted that Ethiopian Airlines is the first network-type foreign carrier introduced by Xinjiang, and the first to operate a Boeing 777 full freighter in the region.
This development establishes a vital air cargo corridor that enables Xinjiang’s premium exports—including fruits, salmon, and specialty agricultural goods—to reach markets across Africa and the Middle East swiftly. In turn, the route opens the Chinese market to Ethiopia’s high-quality exports such as beef, lamb, coffee, and horticultural products.
The Urumqi–Addis Ababa route marks Ethiopian Airlines’ 11th dedicated cargo service to China, complementing its robust network that already includes key destinations such as Changsha, Ezhou Huahu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen, and Zhengzhou. The carrier also operates more than 35 weekly passenger flights to five major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hong Kong.
The Urumqi route follows the April 2025 launch of a Macao–Madrid freighter service and comes on the heels of Ethiopian Cargo taking delivery of its 12th and final Boeing 777 freighter, registered as ET-BAC, in May.
Ethiopian Cargo now operates a fleet of 20 freighter aircraft, comprising 12 Boeing 777Fs, 4 Boeing 767Fs, and 4 Boeing 737Fs, making it one of Africa’s largest and most advanced cargo operators. This latest move further cements Ethiopian Cargo’s position as a critical enabler of intercontinental trade and a pivotal player in advancing China–Africa economic ties.