Ethiopian Airlines Group, the leading aviation group in Africa, has established a global standard cargo conversion programme to convert the B-767-300 ER to freighter services following a partnership agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

 

The new passenger-to-freighter conversion centre, which will operate from the Ethiopian MRO centre in Addis Ababa, will provide solutions for the rising demand for cargo aircraft of B767 models. 

 

The conversion line in Ethiopia will join existing conversion sites IAI operates at its campus in Ben Gurion International Airport and in Mexico.

 

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said: "In line with our Diversified Aviation Business Model of Vision 2025, we are partnering with IAI in building a cargo conversion centre in our MRO facilities in Addis Ababa Airport. It will commence its first business with three Ethiopian Airlines-owned B-767-300 aircraft. 

 

"The centre in Addis Ababa airport will expand its services to all airlines in Africa and the wider region. We are very happy that we are able to collaborate

with IAI to enable us to expand our cargo and logistics services which is already the largest and leading cargo network in Africa.”

 

IAI's Executive VP and General Manager of Aviation Group Yossi Melamed said: “There's a sharp rise in the demand for cargo aircraft as a result of the rise in ecommerce, which has peaked to record levels during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

"IAI has an excellent reputation as a conversion centre of passenger-to-freighter aircraft, and we are constantly receiving requests to open such conversion centres in more and more locations around the world."

 

Ethiopian MRO, with its internal capacity, had temporarily converted

25 of its passenger aircraft to freighter to boost its cargo capacity as demand to transport emergency medical supplies soared.-TradeArabia News Service