Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, is to launch cargo flights to Europe and the Middle East from airports in Bahirdar and Mekelle. 
The groundbreaking initiative is intended to promote investment in regional cities by allowing businesses located there direct access to international markets said Dereba Kuma, Minister of Transport.
The airline expects to provide cargo services for meat and horticultural products from these airports explained Dereba presenting the seven month performance report for the transport sector to the House of Peoples Representatives.
The flights to be operated out of Bahirdar and Mekelle airports are primarily destined for the Middle Eastern cities of Dubai and Jeddah noted Wogayheu Terfe, Manger of Public Relations and Publications with Ethiopian Airlines.Direct flights will guarantee fresh delivery of meat products that are liable to degrade in quality with delays according to Wogayheu.
The airline will determine the number of flights that it will make depending on the demand for its services Wogayheu explained.
In related news Ethiopian Airlines operated 281 charter flights transporting 21,748 tons of perishable cargo to different destinations in the first seven months of the Ethiopian fiscal year according to the report presented to the parliament.
The airline earned record revenues that enabled it to show a profit in spite of significant increases in operational costs associated with fuel price hikes said Dereba.
Source: Ethiopian Herald
