Both have agreed to work in partnership in 4 areas of strategic collaboration: Industrial Development, Advanced Aviation Training, Educational Partnership and Leadership Development in a span of 3 years.
Ethiopian Airlines Group and the Boeing Company have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on positioning Ethiopia as an aviation hub for Africa. Building on the two parties’ seventy years of shared history in aviation, the MoU aims at positioning Ethiopia as Africa’s aviation hub – “Ethiopia for Africa”.
Boeing has recognized Ethiopian as a global aviation leader in the continent. The MoU is indicative of Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines’ interest to establish a mutually beneficial world class aviation partnership. To realize their shared vision, Ethiopian and Boeing have agreed to work in partnership in four areas of strategic collaboration namely: Industrial Development, Advanced Aviation Training, Educational Partnership, and Leadership Development in a span of three years. To this effect, joint multidisciplinary teams have been established to implement the strategic partnership and important milestones have already been registered.
Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines
Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said, “I am very much thrilled not only to sign this historic MoU with our long-standing aviation partner, Boeing but also to the implementation of milestones. We have been working in collaboration with Boeing on different large-scale projects in aviation for more than 70 years to serve the continent of Africa and this partnership expands and builds our capability in multiple fields”.
He further added “I have firm conviction that with our dedication in its implementation, the MoU will successfully attain its goal of positioning Ethiopia as the continent’s aviation hub. We highly value the critical role of our American partner companies in accomplishing our goals and we will continue to work with key American aviation players like Boeing, GE, Pratt and Whitney and Collins Aerospace etc… in our journey towards excellence in aviation”.
Ethiopian and Boeing desire Ethiopian Aviation Academy to be recognized as a global standard for aviation training. Boeing is committed to developing Ethiopia’s manufacturing capability and aftermarket aviation service. Through this MoU, Boeing and Ethiopian will partner to advance capabilities to compete globally. They seek to build a 21st century pipeline for aviation careers in Ethiopia. They will collaborate with highly qualified educational institutions and aviation industry partners to create specialized learning and development programs to meet workforce demands. Boeing and Ethiopian will also work together to develop current and future generations of leaders in Ethiopia for Africa.
It may be noted that Ethiopian Airlines (EAL) is Ethiopia’s flag carrier, headquartered at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. It commenced their inaugural flight into India’s national capital, New Delhi in 1966. Ethiopian is one of the most popular airlines operating from India. The pan-African flag carrier used to operate services to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore from capital city Addis Ababa prior to Covid 19. It also used to operate freighter services to Chennai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Joint logo of Ethiopian & Boeing
About Ethiopian: Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) 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. Ethiopian 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 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 units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services, Ethiopian Airports Services and Ethiopian Express Services (Domestic). Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
