In anticipation of the growing market for the export perishables, Ethiopian Airports Enterprise built two dedicated cold store air cargo terminals in the north of the country; one at Bahir Dar Airport the other at Mek’ele Airport.

Both terminals include cooling and refrigeration equipment, truck docks at landside, overhead and slide doors, lowering workstations, weighing systems, motor powered roller decks, ETV storage system with friction powered storage roller decks, and dolly docks at airside. The first ULD system was commissioned by SACO in Spring 2011, the second will follow later this year.

These handling and storage systems will enable local growers of flowers, fruits and vegetables to send their temperature sensitive products to overseas markets in the shortest possible time whilst keeping the cool chain intact.