Ethiopian Airlines winner of African Airline of the Year award

Jul 31, 2017

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES has won the African Aviation ‘African Airline of the Year’ Award for 2017, for the second year in a row, in recognition of its continued rapid growth, increased profitability and its outstanding contribution to aviation development in Africa.

The 2017 African Airline of the Year Award was presented to Ethiopian during the 26th Annual Air Finance Africa Conference & Exhibition held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Announcing the Award, African Aviation CEO, Mr Nick Fadugba, said:  “In the past 12 months, Ethiopian Airlines has further expanded its route network, modernised its fleet, inaugurated three new aircraft maintenance hangars, as well as a new world-class in-flight catering facility and has strengthened its airline joint ventures in Africa.  In addition, Ethiopian Airlines has achieved a record financial turnover and profitability in spite of various industry challenges.  Currently, the airline is well on track to exceed the goals of its Vision 2025 Strategy.”

Mr Fadugba commended the management and staff of Ethiopian Airlines for their exceptional hard work and dedication to the company and also praised the Government of Ethiopia for providing an enabling environment for the airline to grow and prosper.

Accepting the Award on behalf of Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Meseret Bitew, Ethiopian’s acting Chief Financial Officer said that the airline currently operates the youngest aircraft fleet in the African airline industry, including Airbus A350s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with an average age of below five years.

Mr Bitew explained that the Government of Ethiopia’s mandate to the airline was to expand and to remain profitable.  He added that cross-border airline co-operation was imperative in Africa if African airlines were to succeed.   He credited the success of Ethiopian’s joint venture airlines in Africa to proper due diligence, a desire for mutual benefits and a long-term perspective.

The African Aviation Awards were introduced by African Aviation Magazine in 1999 in Washington DC, USA, in order to give International recognition to individuals and organisations who have made a significant contribution to aviation development in Africa.  African Aviation, part of African Aviation Services Limited, was established in 1990 to promote aviation development in Africa and facilitate economic and social development across the continent.  Last year, African Aviation celebrated the 26th Anniversary of its MRO Africa and Air Finance Africa Conferences.

African Aviation awards 2017

Mr Meseret Bitew, acting Chief Financial Officer, Ethiopian Airlines (second right) receives the African Aviation ‘African Airline of the Year’ Award from James Geldenhuys, Head, Aviation, Nedbank CIB, South Africa supported by Mr David Minty, Head of Aviation, Investec Bank, South Africa (left) and Mr Nick Fadugba, CEO, African Aviation Services Limited (right).