Ethiopian Airlines Cargo tracking

What is Ethiopian Airlines Cargo?

Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services is the cargo and logistics division of Ethiopian Airlines, the flag carrier of Ethiopia, and operates the largest air cargo network in Africa. The division connects more than 130 international destinations through a combination of dedicated freighter flights and belly-hold capacity on the passenger fleet. Its primary hub is Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which the division has developed over several decades into a continental crossroads for air freight, serving industries from pharmaceuticals and perishables to e-commerce and live animal transport. Cargo operations today generate close to half of the Ethiopian Airlines Group's total revenue.

Ethiopian Airlines was established by imperial decree of Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1945, with the first scheduled revenue service beginning on April 8, 1946, on the route from Addis Ababa to Asmara and onward to Cairo. Cargo was embedded in the airline's operations from the first flight rather than added as a later complement, and the division has demonstrated particular resilience during periods of instability. During the political upheaval of 1991, cargo revenues alone supplied more than one-third of total airline revenues, sustaining the carrier through a period when passenger traffic was severely disrupted. The early years of operations were conducted under a technical and management agreement with Trans World Airlines, which helped establish professional operating standards from the outset.

A major capacity milestone came on September 19, 2012, when Ethiopian became the first airline in Africa to receive and operate the Boeing 777 Freighter, a long-range widebody aircraft capable of carrying 102 tons over distances exceeding 4,900 nautical miles. This aircraft gave the division a decisive advantage on long-haul intercontinental routes and formed a cornerstone of the airline group's Vision 2025 strategic plan. In February 2024, Ethiopian Cargo inaugurated Africa's first dedicated e-commerce logistics facility at Bole International Airport, a $55 million, 15,000-square-metre automated sorting hub capable of handling up to 150,000 tons per year. The airline group is now implementing a Vision 2035 plan, having completed Vision 2025 ahead of schedule.

• Date of first service: April 8, 1946, flying from Addis Ababa to Asmara and Cairo
• Founded: 1945, by imperial decree of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Parent company: Ethiopian Airlines Group, state-owned flag carrier of Ethiopia
• IATA AWB prefix: 071, with Air Waybill numbers in the format 071-XXXXXXXX
• IATA carrier code: ET
• Cargo terminal: Largest in Africa, at Bole International Airport, with capacity approaching one million tons annually
• E-commerce hub: $55 million facility inaugurated February 2024, the first dedicated e-commerce logistics hub in Africa
• Joint venture: DHL-Ethiopian Airlines Logistics Services S.C., established 2018
• Record annual volume: 750,000 tons transported in the 2021/2022 fiscal year
• Industry firsts: First African airline to operate the Boeing 777 Freighter (2012) and first African airline to receive IATA CEIV Pharma certification
• Strategic plan: Vision 2035, currently in implementation following early completion of Vision 2025

Ethiopian Cargo's position in the global air freight market rests on the geographic advantages of the Addis Ababa hub, which sits at a natural transit point between sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, combined with a fleet centered on the high-capacity Boeing 777 Freighter. The division has received multiple international cargo industry awards, including recognition at the Arabian Cargo Awards, and holds certifications from IATA across several product categories. Digital booking access through the Freightos platform and through the Ethiopian Cargo online booking system has extended commercial reach to freight forwarders and shippers globally. The hub operates with 100% electronic Air Waybills, in line with IATA's industry digitization initiative.

Which countries does Ethiopian Airlines Cargo deliver to?

Ethiopian Cargo operates dedicated freighter services to more than 70 cargo destinations worldwide, while belly-hold capacity on Ethiopian Airlines passenger aircraft extends coverage to more than 145 destinations across five continents. Within Africa, the division maintains the most extensive dedicated freighter network of any African carrier, with freighter services to 35 African destinations covering West, East, Central, and Southern Africa as well as the Horn of Africa and the Maghreb. The geographic location of Addis Ababa, at the intersection of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, gives the hub structural advantages for routing cargo between the continent and global trade lanes.

Key African markets served by dedicated freighter include Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Senegal. Casablanca was added as the 35th African freighter destination, marking the division's entry into the Maghreb region. Secondary hubs in Lomé, Togo and Lilongwe, Malawi, extend reach within sub-Saharan Africa and allow regional distribution without requiring all cargo to transit Addis Ababa. In Asia, major freight destinations include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Bangkok, Hanoi, Singapore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, with Asian routes carrying particular importance for cross-border parcel flows between Chinese manufacturing centers and African markets.

• Africa (freighter): 35 dedicated destinations including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, and others across all major African sub-regions
• Asia: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Bangkok, Hanoi, Singapore, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and others
• Middle East: Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Riyadh, Bahrain, Muscat
• Europe: London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Budapest, Copenhagen
• Americas: Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Houston, Toronto
• Secondary hubs: Lomé (Togo) and Lilongwe (Malawi) for regional sub-Saharan African distribution

In the Middle East, Dubai and Doha function as major transit points given the region's role in international logistics, and the network also covers Kuwait, Riyadh, Bahrain, and Muscat. European destinations span both Western and Central Europe, with London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Budapest, and Copenhagen all receiving scheduled services. In the Americas, the network extends to Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Houston, and Toronto. The e-commerce logistics facility at Bole International Airport is designed specifically to process the parcel flows transiting between Asian origins and African consumer destinations, connecting to more than 130 global endpoints through the Addis Ababa hub.

What are the Ethiopian Airlines Cargo services and delivery times?

Ethiopian Cargo offers a portfolio of cargo products covering general freight, specialized handling categories, charter services, and logistics support. The core product is general air cargo, available on both dedicated freighter flights and belly-hold capacity on Ethiopian Airlines passenger aircraft, covering standard commercial goods, manufactured products, electronics, textiles, and other non-hazardous commodities. Beyond general cargo, the division operates a series of named specialized product lines designed for shipments that require specific handling conditions or storage environments throughout the journey.

The perishable cargo product, marketed as ET-FRESH, handles cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and other temperature-sensitive agricultural products using temperature-controlled facilities at the hub and dedicated cool dollies on the ramp to minimize temperature exposure during ground transfers. Ethiopia is a significant exporter of cut flowers to Europe and the Arabian Gulf, making ET-FRESH one of the division's most commercially active product lines. The pharmaceutical service, ET-PHARMA, is underpinned by IATA CEIV Pharma certification, making Ethiopian Cargo the first airline in Africa to hold this accreditation. Cold storage facilities at Addis Ababa maintain temperatures between -30°C and +25°C, while smart cool dollies keep ramp temperatures between -29°C and +27°C for clinical materials, vaccines, and biological samples in transit.

The e-commerce logistics facility at Bole International Airport, opened in February 2024 at a cost of $55 million, provides end-to-end handling for cross-border parcel flows through a 15,000-square-metre automated sorting hub. Services at the facility include consolidation, deconsolidation, automated sortation, repacking, and labelling for parcels connecting more than 130 global destinations. Cargo charter services allow a full aircraft to be reserved exclusively for a single customer's requirements, with routing, timing, and payload agreed directly with the charter desk. Ground logistics services are available through the DHL-Ethiopian Airlines Logistics Services joint venture, covering trucking, customs brokerage, and warehousing within Ethiopia, particularly for the country's industrial parks and export processing zones.

• General air cargo: Standard commercial freight on dedicated freighters and belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft
• ET-FRESH (Perishables): Temperature-controlled handling for flowers, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat; dedicated cool dollies on ramp
• ET-PHARMA (Pharmaceuticals): IATA CEIV Pharma certified; cold storage between -30°C and +25°C; smart cool dollies maintaining -29°C to +27°C during ramp transfers
• ET-LIVE (Live Animals): IATA Live Animals Regulations compliant; approximately 6,000 animals transported in the 2022 fiscal year
• ET-VALUABLES (High-Value Cargo): Secure handling and storage for gold, diamonds, currency, jewelry, and art
• ET-DANGEROUS GOODS: Carriage of IATA-classified hazardous materials under ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
• E-Commerce hub: Automated sortation, consolidation, deconsolidation, repacking, and labelling for cross-border parcels at the Addis Ababa facility
• Cargo charter: Full aircraft reserved per customer, with flexible routing and scheduling agreed directly with the charter desk
• Consolidation and warehousing: Bonded and unbonded warehouse facilities at Addis Ababa for transit and import/export cargo
• Ground logistics: Trucking, customs brokerage, and warehousing within Ethiopia via the DHL-Ethiopian joint venture

As an airline cargo operator, Ethiopian Cargo's transit times are governed by flight schedules rather than a fixed delivery promise. Intercontinental shipments on dedicated freighter routes can typically be accepted and flown within 24 to 72 hours of the booking, subject to available capacity on departing flights. The hub operates daily or near-daily departures to major markets in Europe, the Gulf, and Asia. For pharmaceutical and perishable shipments, next-available-flight boarding is prioritized to protect cargo condition. Charter flights offer fully customized scheduling agreed between the customer and the charter desk at the time of booking.

What are the Ethiopian Airlines Cargo rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Ethiopian Cargo calculates freight charges using the IATA standard for air cargo pricing, based on chargeable weight. Chargeable weight is the higher of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight of a shipment. Volumetric weight is derived by dividing the total volume of the consignment in cubic centimetres by the factor of 6,000, which is the IATA standard for air cargo. A large but light shipment is therefore charged on the basis of the aircraft space it occupies rather than its physical mass, in the same manner as other international air freight.

Rates vary by trade lane, commodity type, service level, and market conditions including fuel surcharges and security surcharges. The Boeing 777 Freighter, the backbone of the dedicated freighter fleet can carry up to 102 tons of payload per flight, allowing the division to accept large-volume consignments that smaller freighter aircraft could not accommodate. For e-commerce parcel flows processed through the Addis Ababa hub, rates are typically calculated on a per-parcel or per-kilogram basis for aggregated volumes handled by freight forwarders and logistics integrators. Specific rate quotations are available through the Ethiopian Cargo booking portal, the Freightos platform, and through the division's worldwide office network.

• Pricing basis: Chargeable weight, being the higher of actual gross weight and volumetric weight
• Volumetric factor: 6,000 cm³ per kilogram, the IATA standard for air cargo
• Maximum payload per Boeing 777 Freighter: 102 tons per flight
• Rate variables: Trade lane, commodity type, service level, fuel surcharges, security surcharges
• E-commerce rates: Per parcel or per kilogram for aggregated flows through the Addis Ababa hub
• Booking channels: Ethiopian Cargo online portal, Freightos platform, worldwide office network

What are the Ethiopian Airlines Cargo delivery options?

Ethiopian Cargo operates primarily as a business-to-business air cargo carrier. The large majority of shipments are released to freight forwarders, customs brokers, or consignees at destination airport cargo terminals rather than delivered to residential or commercial end addresses. Cargo is made available at the destination terminal upon presentation of the original Air Waybill and completion of import customs clearance formalities. The consignee or their authorized representative, typically a customs broker or freight forwarder, collects the cargo from the bonded warehouse at the destination airport facility.

For e-commerce parcel flows processed through the Addis Ababa hub, last-mile delivery to end consumers is handled by downstream partners including local postal operators, national courier companies, and logistics partners in the destination country. Ethiopian Cargo's role in these shipment chains covers the international air transport and hub processing stages. Cargo requiring special handling conditions, such as pharmaceuticals with cold chain requirements, live animals, or classified dangerous goods, must have the relevant handling arrangements confirmed in advance of collection at the destination terminal.

• Airport terminal collection: Cargo released at destination cargo terminal to consignee or authorized agent upon Air Waybill presentation and customs clearance
• Required identification: Valid government-issued identification for the collecting party
• Customs documentation: Proof of completed customs clearance required in most destination countries before cargo release
• E-commerce last mile: Final delivery to end consumers handled by local postal operators and courier partners in the destination country
• Special cargo collection: Advance confirmation of handling arrangements required for pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, and high-value consignments

What should I do if my Ethiopian Airlines Cargo parcel is lost or damaged?

Ethiopian Cargo handles claims for lost, damaged, or delayed cargo under the Montreal Convention and IATA cargo claim procedures. A claim is a formal complaint with a demand for compensation arising from mishandling of a shipment, whether through loss, pilferage, physical damage, or delay. Claimants must contact the Ethiopian Airlines Cargo office at the origin or destination airport to initiate the process. Contact details for all worldwide offices are listed in the Ethiopian Cargo customer care section, organized by country and region.

The time limits for filing a claim are fixed by the Montreal Convention and must be strictly observed. For damaged cargo, the claim must be submitted within 14 days of receipt by the consignee. For delayed cargo, the deadline is 21 days from the date the cargo was placed at the consignee's disposal. For lost cargo, the claim must be filed within 120 days of the date of issue of the Air Waybill. Compensation is calculated in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), with the applicable exchange rate being the International Monetary Fund rate on the date of the compensation agreement.

• Copy of the Master Air Waybill (MAWB): Required in all cases to identify the shipment in the claims process
• Written Notice of Claim: Formal written statement of the claim and the basis for compensation sought
• Letter of Subrogation: Required where applicable, for example when an insurer is recovering costs on behalf of a claimant
• Commercial invoice(s): Covering the declared value of the goods in the consignment
• Packing list: Detailing the contents of the shipment
• Cargo damage or inspection report: Required for damage claims, documenting the nature and extent of the damage
• Photographs: Of the damaged goods and packaging, required for damage claims
• Claim deadline for damaged cargo: 14 days from the date of receipt by the consignee
• Claim deadline for delayed cargo: 21 days from the date cargo was placed at the consignee's disposal
• Claim deadline for lost cargo: 120 days from the date of Air Waybill issue

Customer support for claims and cargo inquiries is accessible through the division's global office network and through the Ethiopian Airlines Group's Global Customer Interaction Centre. The cargo website maintains a customer care portal, a FAQ section, and a worldwide office directory listing contact details by country and region. Claimants who are uncertain which office to contact can use the worldwide directory to identify the relevant cargo claims desk at the origin or destination airport.

Does Ethiopian Airlines Cargo handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Ethiopian Cargo is a fundamentally international air cargo operator, with the vast majority of its freight involving cross-border shipments. The division works in coordination with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and national customs authorities at each origin and destination. At the Addis Ababa hub, cargo operations take place within the framework of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, and the hub's bonded warehouse status allows transit cargo to pass through Ethiopia without incurring local import duties.

For shipments entering or leaving Ethiopia, customs clearance is arranged by the shipper's or consignee's designated customs broker or freight forwarder, who prepares the required customs declarations and coordinates with local authorities. Ethiopian Cargo provides Cargo Manifest and Air Waybill data electronically to customs authorities, supporting pre-arrival risk assessment at destination ports. The 100% electronic Air Waybill environment at Addis Ababa accelerates data exchange throughout this process. The dedicated e-commerce hub is designed to handle customs processing for high volumes of individual consumer parcels, linking with destination-country postal and customs systems for large-scale clearance of small packages.

The allocation of responsibility for import duties and taxes depends on the Incoterms agreed between the shipper and the consignee. Under DAP or DDU terms, the consignee pays import duties and taxes in the destination country. Under DDP terms, the shipper takes on this financial liability. Ethiopian Cargo does not offer a universal DDP service across all destinations, but such arrangements can be structured through freight forwarders with relevant expertise in the destination country.

Prohibited items include commodities banned under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, national export control laws, the CITES convention for protected wildlife species, and destination-country import restrictions. Firearms, narcotics, counterfeit goods, and items subject to United Nations sanctions are not accepted for carriage. For pharmaceutical shipments, all Good Distribution Practice guidelines are observed in line with the division's IATA CEIV Pharma certification. Lithium batteries, flammable materials, toxic substances, oxidizing agents, and radioactive materials may be carried subject to compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods classification requirements and ICAO Technical Instructions.

Understanding tracking statuses

Ethiopian Cargo assigns every shipment an Air Waybill number using the division's IATA-assigned prefix 071, giving each consignment a unique reference in the format 071-XXXXXXXX. Shipments can be tracked through the official Ethiopian Cargo tracking portal and through third-party platforms including TrackCargo, and Ordertracker. A text message tracking service, launched in 2014, allows customers to check shipment status by sending the letter "C" followed by the Air Waybill number without needing to visit or call the cargo terminal directly. The division operates with 100% electronic Air Waybills from its Addis Ababa hub, in line with IATA's digitization program for the air cargo industry.

Status updates follow the Cargo-IMP messaging standard used across the international air cargo industry, in which each event in a shipment's journey is recorded with a standardized code and a corresponding message. These codes appear across all tracking systems connected to the Ethiopian Cargo data feed and represent the key milestones from acceptance at origin through to delivery at destination. The table below explains what each status means when it appears against an Ethiopian Cargo Air Waybill number.