Ethiopian Received Airline of the Year Award for the Fifth Year in a Row from AFRAA -November 24, 2016

Africa’s largest Airline Group, Ethiopian Airlines, is pleased to announce that it has won  Airline of the Year Award, for the fifth year in a row, by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) during  its 48th Annual General Assembly held on November 21, 2016, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

The AFRAA annual awards recognize excellence in service delivery, innovation and competitiveness in airlines, individuals and service providers in the African aviation industry.

Ethiopian has been applauded  for its outstanding financial performance, technological leadership and investment in modern fuel efficient fleet, exemplary cooperation with other African carriers, significantly expanding route network in Africa and beyond, growing cargo operations with the largest cargo fleet on the continent and huge investment in MRO and training facilities to support the African Aviation.

While receiving the award, Ethiopian Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “We are highly honored for this recognition by fellow sisterly airlines in Africa, for the fifth consecutive year. The award underscores the continuous efforts and hard work of Ethiopian employees who are striving day and night to surpass customers’ expectations. Ethiopian is also grateful to its loyal customers for giving us the opportunity to serve them, for travelling on Ethiopian in great numbers, for their continued feedback and support which, in turn, assisted us in enhancing the airline’s service excellence.

He added, “Although Africa is registering rapid economic and travel growth, this growth is primarily benefiting non-African carriers. I would like to remind fellow African Airlines that African aviation holds a very strong future with vigorous fundamentals for aviation to thrive, only if, we Africans look inwards in the continent to leverage on the available internal resources to create synergy through collaborative partnerships in areas of training, technical and management support. Most of all, realizing one single unified market without any restriction for African airlines is no more an option.”

“This is a testimony of the soundness of our Vision 2025 fast, profitable and sustainable growth strategy and once again, Ethiopian welcomes this award with great pride. ”

Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline, including Best Airline Staff in Africa by  SkyTrax , Best Airline in Africa by APEX ‘Passenger Choice Awardand CAPA Airline of the Year Award are few to mention.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 95 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian 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 centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

For more information about this press release, please contact:

Mrs. Hanna Atnafu

Manager Corporate Communications

Ethiopian Airlines

Tel: (251-1) 517-89-07/656/165/913/529

CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com

www.ethiopianairlines.com

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