Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Africa’s largest cargo operator, Ethiopian Airlines, is delighted to announce the inauguration of its state of the art Cargo Terminal-II during the Second ICAO Global Air Cargo Development Forum which Ethiopian is hosting from 27 to 29 June 2017.
Covering a total land area of 150,000 square metres, the new Cargo Terminal includes facilities such as Dry Cargo Terminal warehouse, Perishable Cargo Terminal with cool Chain Storage, fully automated with latest technology ETV (Elevating Transport Vehicle), G+2 office building, apron area which accommodates 5 additional big freighter aircraft, sufficient truck parking apron as well as employees canteen and wash rooms. The new Cargo Terminal is also fitted with different climate chambers for storage and handling of temperature sensitive products such as fresh agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, life Science Products, etc.
Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde Gebre Mariam, remarked: “Infrastructure development being one of the four pillars of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth strategic roadmap, Vision 2025, we have been making massive investments in infrastructure projects to modernize and expand our cargo facilities at a total cost of USD 150 million. The new Cargo Terminal-II combined with our existing Terminal-I will give us a total tonnage capacity of around 1 million per annum which is the largest in the continent of Africa. Moreover, upon completion of the second phase, which adds 600,000 tones annual uplift capacity, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services will have one of the world’s largest cargo terminals; a capability equivalent to cargo terminals in Amsterdam Schiphol, Singapore Changi, or Hong Kong. This investment and the resulting massive cargo facilities along with the 6 modern B-777F fleet and 2 B-757F will create adequate air cargo transporting capacity for the fast growing export and import demand of the continent which is critically essential in the socio economic development of the African countries.”
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services operates 8 dedicated freighters to 39 global freighter destinations in Africa, the Gulf, the Middle East, Asia and Europe with an average daily uplift of 650 tons on top of the belly hold capacity, 150 tons, to over 95 global destinations.
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has recently won ‘Cargo Airline Award for Network Development” at Brussels; ‘African Cargo Airline of the Year’ and many more awards.
Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, it has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success. It commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 95 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian Airlines is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business units including Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.
