Ethiopian Airlines opens Chengdu-Africa Cargo route

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport has launched its first direct all-cargo route to Africa, connecting southwest China with Addis Ababa and opening another air freight link into African and Middle Eastern markets. Ethiopian Airlines will operate the service using Boeing 777F freighters, with two flights a week on Mondays and Fridays. Thereafter, the frequency is planned to rise to four flights a week.

The new service gives exporters and importers in southwest China a direct air cargo option to Africa, reducing the need for indirect connections and supporting faster movement of time-sensitive and high-value goods. Through Ethiopian Airlines’ Addis Ababa hub, cargo from Chengdu can reach major markets across 54 African countries, including Lagos, Accra, Dakar, Entebbe and Lubumbashi.

For the wider Middle East and Africa logistics sector, the route adds capacity to China-Africa trade flows and strengthens Addis Ababa as a distribution point between Asian and African markets. It can also provide businesses with more routing options for moving goods between China, Africa and markets linked through the Middle East.

Commenting on the new route, Tang Ruibo, General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines China, said the service would support more efficient air logistics for Sino-African trade. The airline plans to adjust capacity and increase frequency as demand develops.