Addis Ababa, 30 June 2025
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading carrier and one of the fastest-growing global airline
brands, is pleased to announce the launch of its new twice-weekly cargo flight service
between Addis Ababa and Urumqi, China. The inaugural flight was welcomed with a
colorful ceremony and traditional water cannon salute upon arrival at Urumqi Diwopu
International Airport. The new flight will operate every Monday and Thursday.
This new route strengthens Ethiopian Airlines’ footprint in Western China and enhances
the vital cargo corridor between Africa and Asia, enabling faster, more efficient freight
movement and broader market access for exporters and importers alike.
Commenting on the launch of the new cargo service Ethiopian Airline GCEO Mesfin
Tasew remarked “The launch of our cargo service to Urumqi marks yet another significant step
in strengthening our footprint in China and deepening air trade links between Asia and Africa.
As a strategic gateway to Western China, Urumqi opens new possibilities for cross-border
commerce, supply chain efficiency, and economic integration.
At Ethiopian Airlines, we remain committed to expanding our cargo network with purpose,
creating reliable, fast, and seamless logistics that serve as a catalyst for growth across continents.
China continues to be one of our most important markets, and this new route reaffirms our longterm partnership and vision for shared prosperity
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates
over 190 weekly flights to 27
destinations across Asia, including 83
weekly flights to 11 cities in China. With
a modern fleet and advanced
temperature-controlled, tech-enabled
cargo infrastructure, Ethiopian
transports nearly 1 million tons of cargo
annually across a global network of over
140 destinations.
This new service marks another
milestone in Ethiopian’s mission to
strengthen Africa –Asia connectivity and
further position Addis Ababa as a critical
global cargo hub.
