Ethiopian Airlines says it has moved its Mexico City cargo operations to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), which opened in March 2022.

The Mexican government has decreed that freighter operations move out of Mexico City International Airport (MEX) with the aim of reducing congestion at the crowded hub. A steady stream of cargo operators, including DHL Express and United Parcel Service, have made the move to NLU, the former military base located about 30 mi. from MEX. The airport has been converted for commercial operations.

Ethiopian now runs 2X-weekly Boeing 777-200 freighter service between its Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) base and NLU. The airline had been operating the same 777F frequencies between ADD and MEX. 

“We have been proudly serving the Mexican market from the bustling Mexico City Airport for over the past six years,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew says in a statement, adding: “Central to this move is a state-of-the-art cargo terminal that boasts cutting-edge technology and modern facilities.” 

According to Ethiopian Airlines, its 777Fs each have the capacity to carry 100 tons of cargo. Mexico City is one of five markets in the Americas the carrier serves with freighter flights from ADD. The other four are Bogotá, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; São Paulo, Brazil; and Miami.

Ethiopian Airlines operates 67 dedicated freighter routes globally.