Big drive to promote transhipment options from Addis

Ethiopian Airlines has embarked on a concerted drive to promote its services beyond Addis Ababa. According to Natasha Graham, sales executive of Aero-Link Consulting, cargo general sales and service agent, there’s been a significant increase in transit cargo through Ethiopia with the major focus falling on shipments into Europe, the Far East and the rest of Africa. The airline operates a daily service on the Johannesburg route using a Boeing 777 passenger aircraft as well a B777F (with an uplift of approximately 95t of cargo per flight) operating three times per week. Most of the services out of Addis deploy wide body aircraft, says Graham. “Although we have an extensive freighter service from Addis, for transhipment cargo we also focus on the wide body passenger services.” Daily frequencies are available to most key destinations in Europe, the USA and Canada. Perishables are also a part of the cargo mix. “We have a state-of-the- art facility in Addis and are currently moving various sensitive commodities such as perishables and flowers beyond Addis,” she said. And while the poor economic climate has negatively affected airfreight volumes, the hunting trophy market has provided an unexpected fillip for Ethiopian. “A number of airlines are no longer accepting hunting trophies which has opened up a new market for us to the likes of Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna and Stockholm, with the Los Angeles route due to open soon. We’re seeing significant tonnages moving,” she told FTW. Rates are very competitive, she added. “Since April we have been offering an all-inclusive rate which has attracted a number of clients because there is no fluctuation based on the fuel price. And our rates are valid for a year with competitive ad-hoc rates on offer for the larger +10t consignments. “Even our dangerous goods rates are all-inclusive.” Ethiopian is well positioned to offer charter/part charter diversion options based on the aircraft already being positioned in Johannesburg (ie, on the back of one of the scheduled freighter flights), taking advantage of no positioning costs, said Graham. “Over the past few months we have seen an increase in enquiries,” she said. INSERT & CAPTION Since April we have been offering an all-inclusive rate which means there is no fluctuation based on the fuel price. – Natasha Graham