Gallery: Inside Ethiopian Airlines’ New E-Commerce Logistics Facility

Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics unveiled a new e-commerce logistics facility at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, which is the first of its kind in Africa. Aviation Week attended the inaugural ceremony in late February. 

The $55 million, 15,000 m² (approximately 16,146 ft.²) facility has capacity to handle up to 150,000 tons of goods annually, supported by a fleet of 16 dedicated freighters and passenger belly space. 

According to Aviation Week Network’s 2024 Commercial Fleet and MRO Forecast, Ethiopian Airlines’ freighter fleet currently includes 10 Boeing 777-200Fs, four 737-800s and two 767-300Fs. It is also planning to convert some of its De Havilland Dash 8-400s to freighters as part of fleet expansion plans.

The facility was built over a 2.5-year period by Chinese aerospace conglomerate AVIC. Ethiopian engineers were responsible for managing the project.

New technologies and systems will allow for easier sorting, repacking and labeling by operators.

An automated conveyor system will sort packages dedicated to e-commerce, mail and courier deliveries more quickly and efficiently. Customers will also be able to track and trace items throughout the process

Meticulously implemented systems will offer consolidation and de-consolidation services, such as when a shipment requires delivery to multiple end customers.

As e-commerce volumes gradually increase, the facility will be used for mail and parcel services.

Goods from e-commerce partners such as Alibaba and Amazon will be sorted at the facility and distributed to global markets, including African freighter and belly cargo routes.

Ethiopian hopes the new facility will aid trade links between African countries and enable a culture change on how e-commerce is delivered.