Ethiopian Airline Celebrates 70 Years
Africa’s most profitable airline, Ethiopian Airlines is celebrating 70 years of dedicated and highly successful air transport services to, from and within the continent of Africa. With its strong mission of bringing Africa together and closer to the world, Ethiopian has expanded much needed air connectivity within Africa and with the rest of the world in the last 70 years.
Leading the way in the past, present and the future; Ethiopian has been an aviation technology leader in Africa and has introduced many new aircraft and systems to the continent. The result of such a long journey of dedicated service has now culminated in connecting 51 cities in Africa with the major trading centres of the world in five continents and 41 cities around the world. Every single day, Ethiopian operates 240 flights with an efficiently designed network of connectivity through our main hub in Addis Ababa with 76 aircraft in service. Along with its Star Alliance partners, they cover the entire world. The fast, profitable and sustainable growth they have registered in the last 10 years has made them the largest, most profitable and fastest growing airline in Africa. They operate Africa’s largest cargo service, largest and most advanced Aviation Academy and best MRO services.
Currently, Ethiopian serves the Nigerian traveler from four Airports of Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Kano. It came as little or no surprise when the airline marked its 70th birthday in Nigeria where it flies to four different routes, as a way of giving back since it’s been with us since independence, their first flight here was six days after independence. Over lunch in the upscale Food of the Sun restaurant, Eko Hotels & Suites on 24 October, Country Manager of the airline, Mr. Solomon Begashaw and other top management staff celebrated with focus on its Past, Present and Future achievement.
Begashaw in his open remark said, “As a veteran Pan-African carrier it has always been our source of pride to serve our beloved continent, Africa, both in good and bad times. Our presence in Nigeria dates back to the 1960’s, same time the Federal Republic of Nigeria got independence from foreign colonization. Ethiopian has been part of Nigeria’s historic growth and always considers itself as a partner in the history and growth of Nigeria as a country. Hence, the Management of Ethiopian Airlines wishes to clarify its stance of pursuing its operation to Nigeria and keep Nigerian travelers connected to five continents around the globe. As an indigenous Pan-African Carrier, Ethiopian airlines will remain with the Nigerian public in good and bad times like it has always done in the past 50 years. Ethiopian has been in the highs and lows of Nigeria; all through the crisis periods of Nigeria and also during the last Economic crisis providing the link between Nigeria and the outside world, thereby showing its African solidarity.”
Much more was revealed during the lunch, such as reinforcing its support to Nigeria; Ethiopian is offering to hire Nigeria pilots for its ever growing fleet of B 777, B 787, B 737 and Dash 8 Q -400 Aircraft, train more Nigerians in its Aviation academy, which is the largest in Africa. Besides, Ethiopian Airlines had always served Nigeria with the best Aircraft in its fleet like the A350 Airbus, B787 Dreamliner and the B777 wide body.
In the Spirit of African brotherhood, Ethiopian Airlines does not wish to be in Nigeria only when the going is good, rather, make sacrifices along with Nigerians in this trying time knowing that Nigerians are resilient and resourceful and will soon come out of the temporary recession.
As the Airline celebrates 70 years of existence, it has extended free tickets to Nigerians who liked Ethiopian Airlines Nigeria Facebook page.
With the announcement by some airlines to stop flights to Lagos and Abuja, Ethiopian Airlines( ET) has said it will continue its scheduled operations to Nigeria ,“the Management of Ethiopian Airlines wishes to clarify its stance of pursuing its operation to Nigeria and keep Nigerian travelers connected to five continents around the globe, the airline does not wish to be in Nigeria only when the going is good, but rather makes sacrifice along with Nigerians in trying times. We do not intend to move out of any city in Nigeria or plans to reduce its frequency in the country and has no plans of flying to Port-Harcourt international airport for now,” he concluded.