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Ethiopian Airlines says it's in profit and cash positive.

And it's largely thanks to booming demand for air cargo.

Speaking Tuesday (January 11), chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam said the carrier was now back to 70% of its pre-crisis capacity.

It's given staff pay rises and bonuses as it returns to health.

However, Gebremariam says the air travel industry still faces a long road to full recovery.

He says fragmented and uncoordinated responses by governments around the world have slowed a rebound in passenger travel.

Dubai is a particular problem for the airline.

It's banned entry for anyone who has recently been in Ethiopia and 13 other African countries.

Air freight is the definite bright spot.

Cargo rates and demand have surged amid health crisis-linked supply chain problems, and a global boom in online shopping.

Gebremariam calls freight the "breadwinner" for the group.