Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its cargo terminal at the Bole International Airport. "We are redesigning the perishable cargo warehouse (cold storage) expansion project so that it includes the whole warehouse expansion (dry cargo warehouse and perishable cargo warehouse) expansion," Ethiopian Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam said. Ethiopian has experienced a growth-spurt over the last few years, and does not look like slowing down just yet. Negotiations with Boeing on new B777 freighters will be underway soon. The airline is also gearing up for the opening of a new hub in Zambia and keeps a keen eye on other attractive destinations. The carrier will begin flights with cargo capacity to the Chinese city of Hangzhou on 1 May. "We are studying market diversification to the flower export destinations. This is being conducted with the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association and the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency," Gebremariam adds. Over the last five years the amount of cargo handled by Ethiopian Airlines has more than doubled from 42,000 tonnes to 110,000. Currently, Ethiopian has six dedicated cargo fleet which include; two 747-200Fs, two 757Fs and two MD-11s, operating the largest cargo fleet in Africa. In addition, the airline provides cargo services in the belly space of passenger fleet of B767-300, B757-200, B777-200 LR, B737-700 and B737-800 on a charter and scheduled basis. Ethiopian operates over 40 cargo destinations spread across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East via its major hub in Addis Ababa. No other airline in Africa avails cargo services of such dimension and magnitude. (acn/ethiopianairlines/mar)