In response to the growing demand for air cargo services following the spread of COVID- 19, Ethiopian Airlines has deployed its massive cargo capacity to facilitate the flow of essential cargo such as medical supplies wherever they are needed.
The state-of-the-art Pharma Wing of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, which is housed within the largest transshipment terminal in Africa, has been central to the airline’s effective handling and shipping of medical supplies across Africa and beyond.
Equipped with temperature-controlled pharma handling storage area of 54,000 sq m, the facility is suitable for handling medical supplies in different temperature ranges through the use of active containers and real-time temperature monitoring system. Dedicated and trained staff stationed at the facility ensures that all operations are carried out in line throughout the supply chain with adhering to the rules and regulations of IATA and other regulatory bodies.
“Ethiopian Airlines has been a key enabler in the global effort to conquer COVID-19 by facilitating the shipment of life-saving medical supplies to different parts of the world. We feel privileged to serve the world in these difficult times deploying our state-of-the-art Pharma Wing as well as our cargo and passenger fleet,” Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam remarked.
Currently, Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services is transporting an average 1.4 million kg of temperature-sensitive healthcare products monthly, including medicines, biologicals, biotechnologies, diagnostics, vaccines and medical devices among others.
It is also to be recalled that different UN Agencies, donor governments and philanthropists are using Addis Ababa as a hub to distribute medical supplies across Africa as part of the global effort to contain COVID-19.
“Now that Addis Ababa is designated as Humanitarian Air Hub by World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organisation (WHO) owing to our advanced facilities, vast network of 127 international destinations and fleet, we will further bolster our efforts as the leading air cargo service provider in Africa,” GebreMariam said.
