JAN FEB 2018 Final LR

GLOBAL NEWS
Ethiopian Cargo adds 2 AEI-converted
737-800 freighters to its fleet
Nabil Sultan,
Divisional Senior Vice President,
Emirates SkyCargo
SHANNON, Ireland: Africa's largest
cargo operator, Ethiopian Cargo and
Logistics Services, is leasing two
Boeing 737-800 freighters from GE
Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), as
part of its expansion program in the
region.
The freighter planes, which were
converted by Aeronautical Engineers
Inc. from GECAS, are scheduled to be
delivered in June of 2018 and in
January of 2019.
“ T h e a i rc r a f t w i l l b e a g re a t
complement to our existing fleet of
B777 and B757 freighters. In line with
our Vision 2025 Ethiopian Cargo and
Logistics strategic roadmap, we are
expanding our cargo fleet and
network to support trade within
Africa and with the rest of the world
b y f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e e x p o r t of
perishables and the import of high
value goods into the continent,” said
Tewolde Gebremariam, Ethiopian
Airlines Group CEO.
Richard Greener, GECAS SVP &
Manager Cargo Aircraft Group, said
their company has been working with
AEI on the planes since 2015 and is
pleased that it will help Ethiopian on
its expansion program.
“We have been working with AEI on
this program since 2015 and look
forward to delivering the first AEI
converted 737-800SF to Ethiopian
Airlines. The airline is joining a
growing number of combination
carriers planning to operate this
aircraft either for replacement of
aging freighters or for growth,” he
said.
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics
provides airport–to–airport services
a c ro s s a n e t work of o ver 9 1
destinations on both freighter and
belly hold services (including both
d i r e c t s e r v i c e a n d a r r a n g e d
connection flights).
It is also the largest network cargo
operator in Africa. With six B-777 and
two B-757 Freighters serving 39 cargo
destinations in Africa, the Middle East,
Asia the America's and Europe,
Ethiopian's state-of-the-art cargo
terminal delivers an annual capacity
of one million tons with services that
range from general cargo to special
cargo (including perishables, valuable
or dangerous goods, live animals and
mail & courier).
T h e A E I c o n v e r t e d f r e i g h t e r
accommodates 11 full height
containers plus one AEP/AEH, a main
deck payload of up to 52,000 lb
( 2 3 , 5 8 7 - k g ) a n d h a s A E I ' s
hydraulically-operated cargo door,
offering numerous key features to
cargo operators.
“The aircraft will be a
great complement to
our existing fleet of
B777 and B757
freighters. In line with
our Vision 2025
Ethiopian Cargo and
Logistics strategic
roadmap, we are
expanding our cargo
fleet and network to
support trade within
Africa and with the
rest of the world by
facilitating the export
of perishables and the
import of high value
goods into the
continent.”
-Tewolde Gebremariam