Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Ma Yining) news: On the opening day of the 2025 (China) Eurasia Commodity and Trade Expo, the inaugural ceremony for the first Xinjiang-Africa freight air route was held, along with a promotional event. Ethiopian Airlines will launch a cargo flight route from Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to Addis Ababa on June 27, 2025. This is the first freight air route from Xinjiang to Africa.

Photo taken on June 26, 2025 shows the signing ceremony for the first freight air route (air-rail intermodal transport) from Xinjiang to Africa held at Xinjiang International Convention and Exhibition Center in Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Ma Yining)

According to the flight schedule, the Urumqi-Addis Ababa cargo route will operate two to three flights per week, using the Boeing 777F aircraft. After the route is launched, it will not only create a fast-track for Xinjiang's high-quality melons and fruits, salmon, and other specialty agricultural products to reach the African, Middle Eastern, and global markets directly, but also provide unprecedented convenience for high-quality beef and mutton, premium coffee, and specialty horticultural products from Ethiopia and other African countries to enter the consumer markets across the country.

After Ethiopian Airlines launches the Urumqi-Addis Ababa cargo route, it will effectively connect with the existing Central Asian flight network in Urumqi, making Urumqi a prime hub to rival Dubai and Doha in the Middle East.

Ethiopian Airlines is the first network-based foreign airline introduced by Xinjiang Airport (Group) Co., Ltd., and it is also the first airline to deploy the Boeing 777F all-cargo aircraft in Xinjiang. By launching the cargo route, Xinjiang's foreign trade export enterprises can more conveniently integrate into the global freight network, sell their products to all over the world, and enhance the competitiveness of Xinjiang products in the international market.

Since 2025, Xinjiang Airport Group has launched seven new international cargo charter routes from Urumqi to Istanbul, Islamabad, Belgrade, Tehran, Bucharest, Rzeszów, and Navoi, continuously expanding its network coverage.

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