Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced the completion of passenger to freighter conversion of one of its three B767 aircraft.

The airline said it partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and launched a B767-300ER freighter conversion line at Ethiopian MRO facilities in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines noted that the conversion is aimed at replacing ageing airplanes with ultramodern and technologically-advanced passenger 
aircraft to provide utmost comfort and convenience for the carrier's passengers.

Boost to cargo capacity

The conversion of the
 aircraft into freighter also boosts the airline's cargo shipment capacity and enhance its 
service.


"We are thrilled to collaborate with Israel
 Aerospace Industries and become the first African carrier to successfully complete the passenger-
to-cargo conversion of B767 aircraft," said Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO.

"As a fast growing airline, our partnership with IAI, one of
the global technology leaders in the Aerospaceindustry, is crucial in technology and skill transfer
in the field of maintenance, repair and overhaul," he added, noting that Ethiopian Airlines is also committed to get closer to 
its customers with high quality cargo services.

"In addition to our latest freighter fleets, the
 converted B767 aircraft will augment our growing local and international cargo destinations with
more load capacities. We have been working to expand our cargo operation as demand is expected 
to grow with the establishment of e commerce hub in Addis Ababa," the Ethiopian Airlines chief said.

Second 'preighter' conversion underway

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ethiopian Airlines noted that it temporarily converted around 25 of its
 wide-body passenger aircraft into freighters to 
boost its cargo operations — enabling the carrier to transport around 1 billion doses of Covid-
19 vaccine around the globe.


Ethiopian Airlines said in its announcement that in partnership with the Israel Aerospace Industries, the carrier has started the full conversion 
of its B767passenger aircraft at the continent's largest maintenance, overhaul and repair
center in Addis Ababa in early this year.

"The airline has completed the conversion of one
 of its three B767 aircraft while theconversion of the second aircraft has reached an 
essential stage of door cutting and will be completed in few months," Tasew said.



Ethiopian has been expanding its cargo operation around the world. Currently, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services covers
more than 130 international destinations around the world with both belly hold capacity
 and 67 dedicated Freighter services.