Ethiopian-Airlines overview

Beginning, humbly, Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian)  turns 78th years of successful journey. Of course, Ethiopian is ageing beautifully. Ethiopian is now the leading Aviation Group in Africa. Over the decades, the airline has established itself as the leader in all facets of the aviation business: technology, leadership, network expansion and aviation mentoring.  

Ethiopian started its operation with five C-47 aircraft operating its debut flight to Cairo via Asmara on April 8, 1946. Ever since, it has been growing in leaps and bounds and continued to introduce cutting-edge aviation technology and systems. As aviation technology leader, Ethiopian was a pioneer in ushering in new aviation technology into Africa including the first jet airplane as well as the first B767, B777-200LR, B787 Dreamliner, and787-9 in the continent. Ethiopian also led the way in operating Africa’s first Airbus A350 XWB. Currently, the airline has a fleet of more than 146 modern aircraft with an average fleet age of less than seven years; it has also more than 100 ultramodern aircraft on order.

Living its motto of Bringing Africa Together and Beyond, Ethiopian has created Africa-wide and transcontinental air connectivity networks linking its main hub, Addis Ababa to the rest of the world. The airline serves 136 international passenger and cargo destinations, including 63 African cities, with daily and multiple flights with a minimum layover in Addis. As a veteran carrier serving a vast intra-African network, Ethiopian flies to more destinations in the continent than any other airline. 

In December 2011, Ethiopian took a giant leap forward in its successful journey by joining Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network. Over the years, the multi-award-winning airline has received countless coveted accolades and recognitions for its excellence including Skytrax’s Four-Star Airline Certification, Best Airline in Africa title for several years in a row, and Overall Excellence for Outstanding Crisis Leadership Award to mention but a few. 

Building on its continuous success, Ethiopian has achieved an average growth rate of 25 percent in the past decade. Having met its 15-year strategic plan, Vision 2025, ahead of time, Ethiopian has charted out a more ambitious strategic roadmap called Vision 2035 to further bolster its continuous growth.

Founded:

December 21, 1945

Starting date of operation:

April 08, 1946

Ownership:

Government of Ethiopia (100%)

Head Office:

Bole International Airport
P.O. Box 1755 
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
Tel: (+ 251) 11 5178407
Fax: (+ 251) 11 661 1474

Reservations:

Tel: 6787 for local and (+251) ,116179900 for International Customers

Fax: (+251) 11 661 147

Website:

http://www.ethiopianairlines.com

Chief Executive Officer:

Mr. Mesfin Tasew

Special Features:

Cloud Nine: Combining First and Business Class services, Cloud Nine gives you the space and comfort you need with 2-2-2 and 1-2-1 seat configuration to sit back in style, enjoy the numerous Inflight Entertainment choices and fly in absolute convenience.  

Economy Class: Graced with an African flavored Ethiopian hospitality, our Economy class is equipped with the best entertainment options, ensuring a memorable flight. From Blockbuster Hollywood films to TV shows and destination guides you’ll have all the entertainment you need right at your screen.   

Frequent Flyer Programme:

Ethiopian’s frequent flyers program ShebaMiles, avails passengers award tickets, upgrades to business class, access to all Star Alliance member airline executive lounges, additional free baggage allowance and many other privileges for accumulated mileages and based on tier levels. Join the program for free and start earning miles for your flights with Ethiopian Airlines, Star Alliance member airlines, partner airlines and for a variety of products and services offered by our program partners.

Passenger Airport Terminal:

Inaugurated on 27 Jan 2019, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has the capacity to handle 22 million passengers per annum.

Ethiopian Hubs:

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) - Ethiopian Main Hub

Lomé (Togo) - Ethiopian Second Hub

Lilongwe (Malawi) – Ethiopian Third Hub

Lusaka (Zambia) - Ethiopian Fourth Hub

Human Capital:

Number of employees: More than 17,000

Ethiopian Aviation University (EAU):

Ethiopian Aviation University (EAU) is the largest and most modern aviation studies center in Africa recognized as ICAO Regional Training Center of Excellence. EAU offers pre-graduate and post-graduate programs in BSc in Aeronautical Engineering, BSc in Aviation Maintenance Engineering, BSc in Aviation Management & Operation, B.A in Tourism & Hospitality Management, MSc in Data Science and MBA in Aviation Management. 

EAU provides its aviation professional trainings at its modern training classrooms, mockups, and simulators. It offers industry standard training for pilots, aircraft technicians, cabin attendants and ground services staff both for initial and recurrent trainings. The Leadership & Career Development Center is also training thousands in Management and Leadership Skills.

Our cabin crew training simulates real-time scenarios with training aircraft designed for emergency drills and service trainings. Our pilot training school uses light aircraft for its basic training and simulators. Full flight simulators of all fleets Ethiopian operates are available for pilot training. Virtual Maintenance Trainers (VMTs) and various workshops feature our aircraft maintenance training. Beyond these, our academy develops standard training packages including e-learning and virtual classroom training. Trainee services include a trainee’s cafeteria, dormitories, an administration complex, and an auditorium. The academy plans to take in 4,000 students a year in its training programs.

Full flight simulator

These are the most technologically advanced aircraft as a sign of the company’s commitment to leading Africa’s aviation industry. We have simulators for all the aircraft we fly; A350, B787, B777, B767/B757, B737 and Q400.

Ethiopian Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

The scale of the MRO operation at Ethiopian is mesmerizing. It is the largest MRO service in Africa and serves Africa and the Middle East. The facility is fully equipped with Hangars, Engine and Component Maintenance workshops with all equipment needed to repair/overhaul aircraft, engines and components. Even if you have flown numerous times, you might not have fully appreciated the size of the largest civil jet engines until you are up close with these huge engines as you walk through the workshop. Established in 1957, Ethiopian MRO provides Line Maintenance services at stations where Ethiopian flies and extends the services to other operators. The facility is fully certified by the ETCAA, FAA and EASA. Ethiopian MRO offers world-class services to its customers and helps make Ethiopian one of the most dependable and safest airlines in the world.

Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services

Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics services is the largest cargo network operator in Africa. With 10 - Boeing 777-200F, 3 - Boeing 767-300F and 4 - Boeing 737-800F dedicated freighters and 145+ passenger aircraft, we serve 70 dedicated cargo and 135+ passenger destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas with an average daily uplift of over 2000 tons of which over 611 tons is transported in a belly hold capacity.

With a modern warehouse of one million tons annual storage capacity, fully automated with state-of-the-art technologies, Ethiopian Cargo is providing world-class services globally. Ethiopian cargo also owns and operates a modern e-commerce facility, equipped with state-of-the-art elevating transfer vehicles and sorting machines. The new e-commerce warehouse, lying on an area of 15,000 sqm, is solely dedicated to mail, courier and e-commerce goods and handles 150,000 tons yearly. 

Through a revision of its vision 2025, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services is planning to grow its cargo network to 90 destinations and operate 37 freighter aircrafts by 2035.

Ethiopian Catering

Ethiopian In-Flight catering facility has a capacity to produce 100,000 meals a day. The facilities are modern and fully equipped to deal with high demand. Good food is important to our discerning customers. Ethiopian In-Flight Catering is dedicated to delivering high quality service and part of that is delivering high quality dining and beverage options. The new menus give customers the choice of local Injera, a vegan option, a variety of world cuisines including Chinese, Halal, Kosher and Indian to Italian.

Ethiopian Skylight Hotel

Ethiopian Skylight Hotel is Ethiopian Airlines Groups’ ultra-luxurious Five-Star hotel. The hotel was inaugurated on January 27, 2019. It has a total of 373 stunning rooms with relaxing and superb designs that are suitable for both corporate and leisure travelers. It has an added feature for Presidential Suits, Executive Suits, Apartments, Persons with limited mobility. The hotel will incorporate additional 651 rooms increasing the total room capacity to 1024, by January 2023 making it the first and the biggest hotel in continent co-located in one area. It has also launched an ultra-luxurious hotel within the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport Departure Terminal 2 (Ethiopian Skylight In-Terminal Hotel) which suitable for all air travelers transiting through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with a capacity of 97 rooms: having conference rooms, restaurant, gym and other facilities.

Branch Offices:

Africa:

Ethiopian has city and airport offices at locations to which it operates. At other major locations it is served by accredited and designated General Sales Agent (GSA).