Ethiopian Cargo has launched a new scheduled freighter service connecting Chengdu in southwest China with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, creating a direct air cargo corridor between western China and Africa. The service began on August 28, 2026, as Ethiopian Airlines continues to expand its cargo network across China.
The new route will initially operate twice a week using a Boeing 777 freighter, providing additional capacity for trade between Chengdu and African markets. The service is expected to support the movement of both high-value manufactured goods from China and agricultural and other commodities from Africa.
Cargo from China is expected to include new energy vehicles, photovoltaic equipment, lithium batteries, electronics and machinery, while shipments from Africa can include coffee, fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, beef and mutton.
Addis Ababa will serve as the African gateway for the new service, allowing cargo from Chengdu to connect onward to major destinations across the continent, including Lagos, Accra, Dakar and Entebbe. This strengthens the role of Ethiopian Cargo’s Addis Ababa hub in facilitating Asia–Africa trade.
The launch also expands Ethiopian Cargo’s presence in China, following previous freighter additions including Urumqi, which was introduced in 2025 to strengthen connections between western China and Africa.
The new Chengdu service is expected to provide exporters and importers with additional airfreight capacity and faster connectivity between China’s growing western manufacturing base and markets across Africa.