Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest and most internationally active carrier, has officially launched a new direct cargo route connecting Addis Ababa with Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The development signals a strategic deepening of logistics and trade connectivity between Africa and Asia, with significant implications for the global cargo sector.
In an exclusive interview with The Southern African Times, Dereje Derero, Managing Director of Cargo and Logistics Services at Ethiopian Airlines, described the new corridor as a “vital cargo gateway” poised to enhance bilateral trade and economic exchange between the two continents. The route, operational from 27 June 2025, is the first direct cargo link between Africa and northwest China and is expected to foster greater efficiency in intercontinental freight movement.
The service will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, and represents the airline’s 11th destination in China. According to Derero, this addition further reinforces Addis Ababa’s role as a major aviation and logistics hub, not only for Africa but also within the context of international supply chains.
Ethiopian Airlines currently runs more than 190 weekly flights to 27 destinations across Asia. Of these, 83 are weekly cargo and passenger services directed to 11 major Chinese cities. The inclusion of Urumqi is a strategic manoeuvre that opens access to China’s inland markets while enhancing Ethiopia’s visibility in the rapidly expanding Belt and Road logistics network.
The significance of the route lies not merely in its geographical reach but in its potential economic impact. Direct cargo services reduce transit times and operational costs, while improving supply reliability for businesses across Africa and Asia. The corridor will support the movement of key exports, including perishables, textiles, and industrial goods, all of which benefit from the airline’s temperature-controlled and tech-enabled logistics infrastructure.
Transporting close to one million tonnes of freight annually, Ethiopian Airlines operates a state-of-the-art cargo fleet and is backed by a highly integrated global network covering over 140 destinations. The airline’s broader growth strategy, known as Vision 2035, is centred on positioning Ethiopian Airlines among the world’s top 20 aviation groups by competitiveness, operational efficiency, and global integration.
The inaugural flight’s arrival in Urumqi was celebrated with a formal welcoming event and a water cannon salute, underscoring the importance of this route in bilateral aviation and trade relations. Urumqi, strategically located near several Central Asian borders, is viewed as a crucial node in regional logistics and trade distribution. The city’s positioning offers African exporters an extended reach into not only China’s domestic markets but also neighbouring economies in Central and South Asia.
Mr Derero further noted that the Chinese market remains a high priority for Ethiopian Airlines, which plans to expand both its destinations and flight frequencies in the near term. The current initiative supports broader trade and economic cooperation between China and African economies, aligning with continental goals for trade diversification and supply chain resilience.
The introduction of this cargo route reflects Ethiopian Airlines’ continued leadership in shaping Africa’s aviation sector. By leveraging its strengths in logistics infrastructure, network connectivity, and international partnerships, the airline remains at the forefront of transforming African air transport into a driver of continental development and global integration.
