CASE STUDIES FROM AFRICA

destinations, of which 52 passenger destinations are in Africa while the remaining is distributed
among Europe and the Americas, as well as the Middle East and Asia; the airline also operates a
cargo network of 24 destinations in 4 continents with 6 wide-body freighters. Nonetheless, there
are other privately owned airlines such as Abyssinian Air flight services that provide mainly
charter services inside the country. 37 The recent surge of the service sector in the Ethiopian GDP
is explained by the good performance of the air transport industry, particularly of its flagship,
EAL.
Other Definitions
The United Nations Central Product Classification (UNCPC) has designated a classification for
air transport services as follows:
Passenger Transportation by Air. This designation includes scheduled and unscheduled
flight services. Scheduled passenger transport by air is defined as services provided on
regular routes and schedules. Unscheduled passenger air transportation is services
provided on a non-scheduled basis, including air sightseeing services and taxi services
(but excluding aircraft rentals). Both scheduled and unscheduled air transport services
can be provided by any type of aircraft, including helicopters. The transport of
passengers’ accompanying baggage is included in this designation.
Freight Transportation by Air. This designation includes mail transportation by air,
containerised freight transportation by air, and other freight transportation by air.
Transportation of mail by air includes all scheduled or non-scheduled services.
Containerised freight transportation covers the scheduled and non-scheduled transport
of items and packages in specially constructed shipping containers. Other freight
transportation by air covers the scheduled and non-scheduled air transport of all other
items and packages.
Transportation via Space. This designation includes the air transport of passengers or
freight via space.
Rental Services of Aircraft with Operator. This designation includes the rental and
leasing services of aircraft (including helicopters) and spacecraft with an operator. These
services are generally known as air charger services. The leasing or rental services of
aircraft without an operator are excluded. 38
Similarly, the WTO, based on UNCPC 73, designed a sectoral list, known as W/120, to classify
the services sectors and subsectors, per GATS. W/120 categorises air transport services as
passenger transportation, freight transportation, rental of aircraft with crew, maintenance and
repair of aircraft, and supporting services for air transport.
37
Ethiopian Airlines Current Commercial Fleet, EAL, 2014.
38
UNCPC 6424.
31