Ethiopian powers up for export growth

Ethiopian Airlines has secured financing for four new Boeing 777-200 LR freighter aircraft, to be delivered between autumn 2014 and winter 2015. This follows the delivery of the first 777 freighter to the airline in September last year, marking the first 777F to be operated by an African carrier, according to Boeing. The addition of the four B777-200 LR Freighters is part of the Ethiopian Cargo Vision 2025 strategic roadmap of supporting the fast growing exports of perishables from Ethiopia and enabling increased trade between Africa and the rest of the world, notes a statement from the airine. “We are phasing in the latest technology cargo aircraft with the aim of supporting Ethiopia’s exports and the booming trade between Africa and the rest of the world. In addition to our two existing cargo hubs in Addis Ababa and Liege in Europe, we have recently established a third cargo hub in Lome, Togo, with our partner airline in West Africa, ASKY Airlines,” said chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam. He said the airline planned to establish similar cargo hubs in southern and central Africa. CAPTION Ethiopian Airlines has secured funding for four new Boeing 777 freighters Photo Ethopian Airlines