BusinessNews

Ethiopian, MailAmerica Launch E-commerce Logistics Services Jointly

– Ethiopian Building e-commerce hub in Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA –  Ethiopian Airlines Group has partnered with MailAmericas (MA), a private postal operator and gold member of the consultative committee for the Universal Postal Union, to develop competitive cross-border e-commerce services within Africa and the Middle East using Addis Ababa as a hub.  

As per this partnership, Ethiopian Airlines will offer air transport service for carrying goods across its wide network while MailAmericas will provide its market expertise and the know-how it gained in Latin America and Africa, where it has networks in over 40 countries.   

Leveraging networks

Ethiopian Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, “we are glad to team up with MailAmericas in launching e-commerce logistics services across Africa and Latin America. 

The leading air cargo service provider in Africa has jointly served more than 20 countries in Africa and Latin America, thus far

“We are keen to further expand our reach going forward,” the group CEO said.

The partnership, he  said, enables the airlines to serve its customers “better by leveraging the expertise, bilateral agreements, and private networks of MailAmericas.”

MailAmericas has become one of the leading cross-border E-commerce service providers in Latin America where it began and has expanded to over 65 countries around the world.

‘A boost to mutually beneficial tie’

“As one of the largest service providers of Cross Border E-Commerce into Latin America, we are thrilled to partner up with Ethiopian Airlines Group and expand our horizon into Africa’s territory,” its President Tomas Miguens said.

“We have extensive knowledge in the region through our subsidiary MailAfrica which has provided services for over 25 years,” Miguens continued.

The latest partnership, he said, will grant MailAmericas’ customers a better shopping experience, improving delivery time and traceability of their packages.

“We will continuously look to strengthen this partnership and develop new businesses to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with Ethiopian Airlines Group,” MailAmericas President added.  

As part of the partnership, Ethiopian Airlines will gain access to all bilateral agreements and private networks of MailAmericas across the regions, enabling it to offer competitive services to customers in Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. 

New E-commerce Hub in Addis

Ethiopian Airlines says it is building an e-commerce hub in Addis Ababa with a total annual capacity of 150,000 tons per annum to boost its e-commerce logistics service and capacity. 

Fully dedicated to e-commerce logistics operations, the e-commerce hub will also be equipped with an Automated Sortation System and Electronic Transport Vehicles (ETV) to ensure the smooth handling of shipments ranging from small parcels to boxes, skids, and built-up units (BUPs). 

As a major global cargo network operator with a modern warehouse accommodating one million tons per annum, Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services has recorded an annual cargo uplift of about 770,000 tons in the 2020/2021 fiscal year.

It serves more than 130 international destinations including 66 dedicated cargo destinations across the globe with belly hold capacity and 14 dedicated freighters.