Ethiopian Airlines Group (ET) has partnered with MailAmericas (MA), a private postal operator and member of the consultive committee for the Universal Postal Union, to develop competitive cross-border e-commerce services within Africa and the Middle East using Addis Ababa as a hub.

E-commerce logistics transport

Ethiopian said in its announcement that the partnership would offer air transport service for carrying goods across its wide network, while MailAmericas will provide its market expertise and the know-how it gained in Latin America and Africa, where it has networks in over 40 countries.

"As the leading air cargo service provider in Africa, we are glad to team up with MailAmericas in launching e-commerce logistics services across Africa and Latin America. So far, we have jointly served more than 20 countries in Africa and Latin America, and we are keen to further expand our reach going forward," said Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Group CEO.

"The partnership enables us to serve our customers better by leveraging the expertise, bilateral agreements and private networks of MailAmericas."

Tomas Miguens, president of MailAmericas, also welcomed the tie-up noting that as one of the largest service providers of cross Border e-commerce into Latin America, the company is "thrilled" to partner up with Ethiopian Airlines Group and expand into Africa.

"We have extensive knowledge of the region through our subsidiary Mailafrica which has provided services for over 25 years. It's our pleasure to be able to work side by side with the leading airline in Africa," he added, noting that the partnership will improve delivery time and traceability of packages in the African region.

As part of the partnership, Ethiopian Airlines will gain access to all bilateral agreements and private networks of MailAmericas across the regions, enabling it to offer competitive services to customers in Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of the world.

E-commerce hubs

Ethiopian noted that it is building an e-commerce hub in Addis Ababa with a total annual capacity of 150,000 tons per annum to boost its e-commerce logistics service and capacity.

Fully dedicated to e-commerce logistics operations, the e-commerce hub will also be equipped with an Automated Sortation System and Electronic Transport Vehicles (ETV) to ensure the smooth handling of shipments ranging from small parcels to boxes, skids, and built-up units (BUPs).

"As a major global cargo network operator with a modern warehouse accommodating one million tons per annum, Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services has recorded an annual cargo uplift of about 770,000 tons in the 2020/2021 fiscal year," Ethiopian said in its announcement.

The carrier serves more than 130 international destinations, including 66 dedicated cargo destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Aside from belly hold capacity from its passenger planes, the carrier also has 14 dedicated freighters.

Ethiopian said its Cargo & Logistics Services also uses the latest technologies for data, information and market intelligence with 100% e-AWB from its main hub in Addis Ababa.