Government, Boeing, airline officials fly as Ethiopian’s B737 MAX returns to skies

OFFICIALS FROM THE GOVERN MENT, AIRCRAFT MAKERS, BOEING, AND ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES were on board to experience the return of the airline’s B737 MAX back to the skies recently.

The officials included the airline’s board chairman and executives, Boeing executives, ministers, ambassadors, government officials, journalists and customers, on board the first flight.

Tewolde GebreMariam, group chief executive officer of Ethiopian said of the return of the B737 MAX to the skies, “Safety is the topmost priority at Ethiopian Airlines and it guides every decision we make and all actions we take. It is in line with this guiding principle that we are now returning the B737 MAX to service not only after the recertification by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), EASA of Europe, Transport Canada, CAAC, ECAA and other regulatory bodies, but also after the fleet type’s return to service by 36 airlines around the world. In line with our initially stated commitment to become among the last airlines to return the B737 MAX, we have taken enough time to monitor the design modification work and the more than 20 months of rigorous recertification process and we have ensured that our pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians and cabin crew are confident on the safety of the fleet. The airline’s confidence is further showcased by flying the top executives and the board chairman and other top government officials on the first flight.”

The B737 MAX has accumulated more than 349,000 commercial flights and close to 900,000 total flight hours since the resumption of its operation a year ago. Ethiopian Airlines always follows rigorous and comprehensive processes to ensure that every plane in the sky is safe. The airline always prioritises passengers’ safety and is confident that its customers will enjoy the onboard safety and comfort that it has been known for. Ethiopian Airlines has four B737 MAX in its fleet and 25 on order, some of which it will take delivery of in 2022.

Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-five years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. It also commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 130 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years.

It is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft, and it is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Seven business units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services, Ethiopian Airports Services and by Ethiopian Express Services (Domestic). Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.