Ethiopian Cargo named African Cargo Airline of the Year

ADDIS ABABA's Ethiopian Cargo has won the African Cargo Airline of the Year award at the Air Cargo Africa 2011 Conference in Nairobi for excellence in air cargo delivery in Africa.


According to the award-sponsors, Mumbai's STAT Trade Times, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo has won the nominations of its readers worldwide in the category of African Cargo Airline of the Year.


At the gala awards night at the Crowne Plaza in Nairobi, Ethiopian Cargo vice president Esayas Woldemariam received the award in the presence of Kenyan Transport Minister Amos Kimunya.


Ethiopian Airlines cargo division accounts for 15 per cent of airline revenue. Ethiopian launched its first cargo charter operations to Nairobi in 1946. Since then, the airline has been moving goods ranging from industrial products to perishables.


Recognising cargo as part of its core business, the airline then established a new cargo terminal with the capacity to hold 350,000 tons that made Addis Ababa a regional cargo hub.


Ethiopian Cargo has made its main hub in Addis Ababa, its Europe hub in Liege, its Middle East hub in Dubai and its Asia hub in Hong Kong. Madras and Mumbai are also major cargo originating points. This, the airlines said, was a "pioneering endeavour to encourage and promote Africa's export business to Europe, the Middle East and Asia".


Ethiopian operates the largest cargo fleet in Africa with six dedicated cargo planes, including two 747-200Fs, two 757Fs and two MD-11s, operating the largest cargo fleet in Africa.


In addition, the airline provides cargo services in bellyholds of its passenger aircraft made up of B767-300, B757-200, B777-200 LR, B737-700 and B737-800 on a charter and scheduled basis. Ethiopian operates over 40 cargo destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)