Ethiopian Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its US Services
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest airline brand, celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the start of its services to the United States (US).
Ethiopian connected Africa with the US in June 1998 with its cross-Atlantic flights to Washington D.C., the capital city and federal district of the United States.
“We are pleased to mark this milestone and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of our successful services to the US,” Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said in his congratulatory message on the Anniversary today.
CEO: ‘Flights Enhancing Africa-US ties’
The CEO further added: “Ethiopian has become a pioneer African flag carrier” by starting services to Washington D.C.
It is now connecting the US with Africa direct from Addis Ababa, Lomé, and Abidjan cities.
“Our flights have been instrumental in facilitating trade and businesses, promoting tourism, and strengthening socio-economic ties between Africa and the US,” Mesfin said.
Ethiopian transported more than half a million passengers to and from the US only from June 2022- May 2023, alone.
‘U.S. Remains Key part of Ethiopian’s Plan’
Ethiopian and the US aviation industry share an impressive relationship that dates back to the 1940s when the airline was founded in December 1945, in partnership with Trans World Airlines (TWA).
In the years since then, Ethiopian has been a proud partner to American aviation firms including Boeing and GE Aerospace.
“We are indebted to the US Government and our aviation partners for the mutually beneficial cooperation that lasts over the past 75 years of our journey,” CEO Mesfin said.
“As the US will always remain a significant part of our strategic expansion plan, we will continue connecting the US with the African market to enhance cooperation between the two regions.”
Flights helps Keeping Historic link
Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, said the two countries and their aviation industries “share a long and unique history.”
In 1945, Col. John C. Robinson, the first African American aviator, enlisted as a fighter pilot for the Ethiopian army in the war against Italy.
And he later ended up training Ethiopian pilots, leaving his mark in the organization of the country’s national airline.
It has since grown to become the top aviation group in Africa, and one of the fastest growing airlines brands in the world.
“With the start of direct flight service to the United States in 1998, flying U.S.-manufactured aircraft,” Ambassador Jacobson noted, the carrier “has provided a vital link between the U.S., Ethiopia, and Africa.”
“That link has grown stronger as the number of direct flights to the United States has grown,” Ambassador Jacobson said.
“The U.S. government is invested in strengthening people-to-people and two-way trade and investment ties between Ethiopia and the United States, and Ethiopian Airlines has been an essential part of realizing those goals.”
Ethiopian eyes more Connectivity
Ethiopian has been successfully connecting the US with its more than 60 African destinations for the past 25 years.
Its officials on Monday said the airline will continue to enhance the connectivity between Africa and the US.
The carrier operates 30 weekly flights to six destinations in the US including 5 passenger services to Washington D.C., New York, Newark, Chicago, and Atlanta as well as a cargo service to Miami.
Currently, Ethiopian airlines serves more than 150 international and domestic passenger and cargo destinations.
