Ethiopian Airlines identified the need for an additional cargo terminal to meet the ever-increasing cargo demands at Addis Ababa Bolé International Airport, especially in the export of agricultural products.

Cargo Terminal 1, with a capacity of 150 000 tonnes of air cargo per year (which was built in 2006), and Cargo Terminal 2, with a capacity of 600 000 tonnes of air cargo per year (expected to be ready for operation in 2017), will be seamlessly integrated to ensure smooth operations between the two.

The design of the terminal building and the cargo handling equipment must be able to accommodate further expansion in the future (Cargo Terminal 3) which will see the cargo facility accommodating a total 1.2 million tonnes of air cargo per year.

Cargo Terminal 2 will have the capacity to accommodate the 600 000 tonnes of air cargo per year with a cargo apron parking capacity for an additional five wide-body cargo aircraft. The terminal building will comprise four elements: a perishable export section, a perishable import section, a dry import section, and a dry export section, as well as supporting infrastructure such as an apron and taxiway, building works, landside infrastructure such as roads and parking, and utilities such as water and electricity.

Delta BEC was appointed to prepare engineering designs and construction drawings for the development of Cargo Terminal 2. This service entails provision of architectural and engineering services (civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and industrial) as well as design services for fire detection and prevention, cargo handling systems, inventory management systems, and IT network and security systems.