Ethiopian Airlines’ Urumqi link becomes key cargo corridor between Africa and Asia

Addis Ababa, July 24, 2025 (FMC) – An executive from Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading carrier and one of the fastest-growing global airline brands, has described the airline’s new cargo route to Urumqi as a pivotal freight corridor enhancing connectivity between Africa and Asia.

Dereje Derero, Managing Director of Cargo and Logistics Services at Ethiopian Airlines, said the company is proud to add Urumqi as its 11th cargo gateway to China. He emphasized that the new service offers major advantages in promoting trade and socioeconomic ties between the two continents.

The twice-weekly cargo flight linking Addis Ababa and Urumqi—capital of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region—was launched on June 27. It marks the first direct cargo connection between the African continent and northwest China, a development Dereje said will “significantly enhance trade cooperation through efficient transportation of goods.”

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates more than 190 weekly flights to 27 destinations across Asia, including 83 weekly passenger and cargo flights to 11 cities in China.

Dereje noted that the Urumqi route represents another milestone in the airline’s mission to deepen Africa–Asia connectivity and solidify Addis Ababa’s role as a key global cargo hub.

He described Ethiopian’s market share in China as “very big” and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to further expanding its presence across the country. “China is a strategic market for Ethiopian Airlines. We are not only focused on adding new destinations, but also on increasing flight frequency and strengthening trade flows between China and Africa,” he said.

Transporting close to one million tonnes of cargo annually, Ethiopian Airlines operates across a global network of over 140 destinations using a modern fleet supported by temperature-controlled and tech-enabled cargo infrastructure.

The airline is currently implementing its long-term growth strategy, Vision 2035, which aims to position it among the world’s top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups.