According to the carrier, the facility will have an annual storage capacity (for both dry and perishable goods) of 1.2m tonnes and be able to handle eight B747-800 freighters at once. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said in a press release that the airline’s uplifting capability will be equivalent to the cargo terminals at Amsterdam Schiphol, Singapore Changi or Hong Kong, once completed.
Reportedly one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world, the new development is to play a key role in Ethiopian’s plans to compete with Middle Eastern carriers and to reinforce its authority in the African cargo market. As part of Ethiopian Cargo’s Vision 2025, the new terminal is intended to support the country’s export of perishables including flowers, fruits, vegetables and meat, aided also by the expansion of the carrier’s freighter network to eighteen aircraft serving 37 international cargo destinations by 2025.
