April 8, 2024, marks 78 years since Ethiopian Airlines commenced operations. Yesterday, the Addis Ababa-based carrier celebrated the milestone with a special flight to Cairo, where the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer served as part of the cabin crew. Passengers onboard the flight also received special gifts for the anniversary celebrations.
Ethiopian Airlines, wholly owned by the Ethiopian government, was founded on December 21, 1945, and commenced operations on April 8, 1946. Its inaugural flight was operated by a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, flying from Addis Ababa to Cairo via Asmara. Today, the route is served directly with a variety of modern aircraft, including the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and B777.
Photo: Ethiopian Airlines
To celebrate its first international flight, the airline treated Cairo-bound passengers with a unique experience. Group CEO Mesfin Tasew and CCO Lemma Yadecha accompanied the cabin crew and assisted passengers onboard the flight. According to Flightradar24, Flight ET452 departed Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) at 22:32 and arrived at Cairo International Airport (CAI) at 00:55 local time.
Photo: Ethiopian Airlines
The airline executives were also on the return flight (ET453), which departed Cairo at 02:41, arriving in Addis Ababa at 07:15. Apart from in-flight service, the executives also assisted passengers with check-in and boarding, ensuring a seamless travel experience. Speaking about the occasion, the Ethiopian Airlines CEO said,
“This event symbolizes our unwavering commitment to our passengers and our belief that true leadership lies in serving others first. Serving our passengers on this special flight to Cairo is not just a tribute to our first international service, but a reaffirmation of our commitment to the ethos of servant leadership. From our humble beginning back in 1946, we’ve come to be the aviation giant in Africa that we are now, pioneering African aviation with many first aviation innovation introductions to Africa along the way. As we are maturing beautifully, our commitment only gets stronger.”
Given Ethiopian Airlines’ global network, it welcomes several different nationalities on its flights every day. Passengers onboard Flight ET452 received Seasons Greeting Packages and Happy Fasting Messages, reflecting the company’s respect for diverse traditions. The packages, which included a postcard of the anniversary celebrations, serve as a physical reminder of the airline’s legacy. The CCO added,
“Our mission extends beyond transportation. We strive to foster a sense of unity and belongingness among our passengers, regardless of their background or belief. This anniversary is a celebration of unity and diversity. By stepping into the roles of our dedicated ground and flight crew, we honor every individual who has been part of our story. Our service today is a promise of continued service excellence for all our passengers.”
Photo: Ethiopian Airlines
Flight ET452 was operated with a 321-seat Boeing 777-200LR, registration ET-AQL. Highlighting its commitment to enhancing the passenger experience, Ethiopian Airlines offered Cairo-bound passengers free WiFi access. The airline’s WiFi (ShebaSkyConnect), available on most of its long-haul aircraft, usually has to be purchased, with packages starting from $5.
According to Ethiopian Airlines, all executives have taken a hands-on approach to service, personally attending to the needs of its customers. The airline’s executive team consists of about 18 members, headed by Mesfin Tasew, who has served as CEO since March 2022.
The executive was seen serving drinks to passengers.
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest carrier in terms of fleet size, passengers carried, destinations served, and revenue. However, this has not always been the case for the state-owned carrier, as a lot of its growth came in the 2010s. It joined Star Alliance in December 2011, and during the seven years before the pandemic, it saw an impressive growth rate of 25%.
The carrier has doubled its fleet and number of destinations over the last decade. In the 2013/14 financial year, it served 82 destinations with a fleet of 66 aircraft. Today, it serves over 135 destinations, including six US airports, with a fleet of 138 aircraft. It has also partnered with various African governments, establishing national carriers in Togo (ASKY Airlines), Malawi (Malawi Airlines), and Zambia (Zambia Airways), as well as the attempted launch of Nigeria Air.
Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
Ethiopian Airlines has also celebrated several milestones and African firsts over the last ten years. It was the first African airline to order and operate the Airbus A350-900 and later became the first A350-1000 customer on the continent. With 20 A350s in its fleet, it is the largest operator of the type in Africa. It was also the first African carrier to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Last month, the carrier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing for up to 20 777-9s, becoming Africa’s first 777X customer.
This growth was achieved through its strategic plan – Vision 2025. The airline is now implementing Vision 2035, with which it plans to double its fleet and destinations, carry 65 million passengers and 3 million tons of cargo, and generate $25 billion in revenue by 2035. During the 2022/23 financial year, the airline transported nearly 14 million passengers, a 165% increase from 2012/13.
What are your thoughts on Ethiopian Airlines’ special flight to Cairo and its growth over the last decade? Please let us know in the comments!
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