ETHIOPIAN Airlines has purchased one MD-11 from Boeing for conversion. The aircraft will be delivered to Ethiopian in December 2008.

Ethiopian is also negotiating for a second converted MD-11 freighter aircraft on a lease basis scheduled for delivery at the end of 2009. Ethiopian currently operates two B757 freighters.

“Currently, the Ethiopian export market is exhibiting a dramatic annual average growth rate and ET’s total international freight traffic uplift has been increasing at 12.03 per cent annually. The addition of these two freighter aircraft will bolster cargo capacity of the airline supporting the increasing export market of the country.”

Ethiopian Cargo provides services to and from various points in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Ethiopian operates eight times per week en route Brussels, the airlines cargo hub in Europe; five times a week to Dubai; four times to Djibouti; three times to Mumbai; two times to Lagos; Kinshasa and flies weekly to Bujumbura, N’djamena, Jeddah and Kigali, in addition to belly-hold cargo space on scheduled passenger services.

Source: Aircargo News