Ethiopian Airlines will now fly three times a week to the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) to pick fresh produce destined for the European Markets.
The arrangement is the result of a joint initiative by the Tanzania Horticulture Association (Taha) and the Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (Kadco), which manages the airport and one of the leading carriers in Africa.
One of the jets from the Horn of Africa country was at the second busiest airports in the country on Friday and ferried tonnes of fresh horticulture produce abroad.
Export of horticulture products from Tanzania has been negatively impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus, which has forced major world carriers to suspend flights to KIA.
The Ethiopian airlines said it has been exerting efforts to manage the impact of coronavirus through a fundamental shift to cargo services.
The pandemic that severely affected the aviation industry has reduced Ethiopian passenger traffic by 90% incurring over $550 million loss in revenue.
Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said various airlines around world have been receiving huge financial stimulant as COVID-19 is sweeping the globe and devastating the aviation industry.
MG/abj/APA