The history of Ethiopian Cargo can be traced back to the 1930s, when the Ethiopian Airline was established. Ethiopian Airline was founded by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, who wanted to bring Ethiopia into the modern world by establishing a national airline. In the following years, Ethiopian Airline grew to become one of the most successful airlines in Africa, with a strong presence in the Middle East and Europe. In the late 1970s, the Ethiopian government decided to expand the airline’s operations and established the Ethiopian Cargo division in the early 1980s.

The Ethiopian Cargo division initially operated a fleet of Boeing 707-320C freighters, which were used to transport cargo across the African continent. In the early 1990s, Ethiopian Cargo began to expand its fleet and acquired a number of Boeing 727-200F cargo aircraft. These aircraft allowed the airline to expand its operations to international destinations and enabled it to offer more comprehensive services to its customers.

In the mid-1990s, Ethiopian Cargo underwent a major expansion and acquired a number of Boeing 747-200F and Boeing 747-400F freighters, which allowed the airline to offer a more comprehensive range of services to its customers. The airline also upgraded its fleet with the addition of four Airbus A300-600F freighters in the late 1990s.

Over the years, Ethiopian Cargo has made a number of important milestones. In 2003, the airline became the first African cargo airline to start operations to the United States, with flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. In 2005, Ethiopian Cargo launched a new service to Europe, becoming the first African cargo airline to fly to Europe. In 2009, the airline launched a new service to the Middle East, becoming the first African cargo airline to fly to the region.

In the past few years, Ethiopian Cargo has undergone several changes and upgrades. In 2014, the airline became the first African cargo airline to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and in 2016, the airline was the first African cargo airline to receive IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification.

Although Ethiopian Cargo has a long and successful history, it has also faced a few setbacks. In 2013, an Ethiopian Cargo Boeing 707-320C freighter crashed in Mogadishu, Somalia, killing all four crew members on board. In 2016, the airline was the subject of a federal investigation in the United States after a shipment of weapons was discovered in one of its planes. However, the investigation concluded that the airline was not responsible for the shipment and no criminal charges were filed.

Today, Ethiopian Cargo is one of the most successful cargo airlines in Africa, with a fleet of modern and efficient freighters. The airline continues to expand its operations, offering comprehensive cargo services to its customers across the African continent and beyond.