Ethiopian Eyes More Partnership with African Countries to Launch New Airlines

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Airlines plans to form equity partnerships with more African countries to launch new African carriers in the year 2022.

In his new year message today, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said the airline has stayed “true to our pan-African ideals” in the concluding 2021.

And “we have continued to partner with African countries to further bridge the air connectivity vacuum in our continent through new African carriers,” Tewolde said.

Ethiopian has launched Zambia Airways in a joint venture with the government of the Southern African nation earlier this month.

In the same year, the Airlines also signed a shareholders agreement with the DR Congo government to establish a new national carrier with 49% equity ownership.

“In the new year, we will continue our efforts to further nurture the growth of Africa’s aviation industry through similar partnerships,” the CEO said.

The Ethiopian Airlines Group is currently implementing Vision 2025 multiple hub strategy in Africa.

Through this strategy, Ethiopian currently operates hubs in Lomé (Togo) with ASKY Airlines, Malawian in Lilongwe (Malawi), Tchadia in N’Djamena (Chad) and Ethiopian Mozambique in Maputo (Mozambique).

Africa’s largest aviation group has already acquired stakes in Guinea’s national carrier.