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Ethiopian Airlines, the flag carrier of Ethiopia, is Africa’s largest and most successful airline, wholly owned by the Ethiopian government. Founded on December 21, 1945, and commencing operations on April 8, 1946, the airline is headquartered at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. A member of the Star Alliance since December 2011, Ethiopian Airlines operates an extensive network of over 150 international destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, alongside 22 domestic routes. Renowned for its efficiency, profitability, and modern fleet, the airline carried 17.1 million passengers in 2024 and reported revenues of $5.6 billion in the first nine months of its 2024–2025 fiscal year, up 8% year-over-year. With a vision to become Africa’s leading aviation group by 2025, Ethiopian Airlines prioritizes safety, customer service, and technological innovation while promoting Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage.
Ethiopian Airlines began as Ethiopian Air Lines (EAL) with five C-47 aircraft, launching its first flight to Cairo via Asmara in 1946. A pivotal partnership with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1946 provided technical and operational support, with a unique preamble emphasizing the goal of eventual full operation by Ethiopian personnel. In 1950, two Convair CV-240s, named “Eagle of Ethiopia” and “Haile Selassie I,” joined the fleet, enabling routes to Cairo, Nairobi, Jeddah, Dhahran, and Karachi. By 1952, the fleet included nine Douglas DC-3s and two CV-240s, covering an 11,000-km network. Services to India and Sharjah were discontinued in 1953, while new routes to Athens, Khartoum, and Wadi Halfa began in 1954. A third CV-240, “The Spiritual Power,” was acquired from Sabena in 1955.
The airline introduced Douglas DC-6Bs in 1958, extending routes to Frankfurt and Nairobi, and became a pioneer in African aviation by adopting jet aircraft in 1962 with the Boeing 720B. In 1965, EAL became a share company, officially renaming itself Ethiopian Airlines. The 1970s saw the introduction of Boeing 707s and 720s, followed by the Boeing 767 in 1984, the first in Africa. The airline navigated challenges like the 1991 overthrow of Ethiopia’s communist government, maintaining profitability despite political instability. In 1994, 40 executives were dismissed after criticizing a government report, but operational independence was restored in 1997 under Bisrat Nigatu.
Ethiopian Airlines launched Vision 2010 in 2005, surpassing goals by 2010 with 3 million passengers, $1 billion in revenue, and 6,000 employees, achieving a $121.4 million net profit. Vision 2025 and Vision 2035 followed, targeting $25 billion in valuation and a fleet of over 200 aircraft by 2035. In 2017, the airline restructured into the Ethiopian Airlines Group, encompassing passenger and cargo transport, aviation training, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), catering, and tourism services. In 2023, the Aviation Academy expanded with a second campus in Hawassa, and a $55 million e-commerce cargo facility opened in Addis Ababa. Despite challenges like Boeing delivery delays and engine shortages, Ethiopian Airlines added 10 aircraft in 2024, including Africa’s first Airbus A350-1000.
As of 2025, Ethiopian Airlines operates a modern fleet of 150 aircraft, including Boeing 787-8/9 Dreamliners, Boeing 777-200LR/300ERs, Boeing 737-800/MAX, Airbus A350-900/1000, and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s. The airline was the first in Africa to introduce the Boeing 767, 777-200LR, 787 Dreamliner, and A350-900, showcasing its commitment to cutting-edge technology. It serves 84 African destinations (62 international), with new routes in 2024 to Freetown (Sierra Leone), Maun (Botswana), Nekemte (Ethiopia), and Port Sudan, with Monrovia (Liberia) as its longest intra-African nonstop service. In the U.S., Ethiopian flies to New York (JFK, EWR), Washington, D.C. (IAD), Chicago (ORD), and Atlanta (ATL), offering 247 monthly flights with over 70,000 seats. The Addis Ababa–Chicago route (7,577 miles) is the longest, while Addis Ababa–Abidjan–JFK (4,931 miles) is the shortest.
The airline’s hub at Bole International Airport facilitates seamless connections, though the airport, nearing its 21-million-passenger capacity, faces congestion. A new $4 billion airport in Bishoftu, designed for 100 million passengers annually, is planned for completion by 2029, linked to Addis Ababa by rail. Ethiopian’s cargo division, one of Africa’s largest, aims to handle 1.5 million tons annually, bolstered by a new e-commerce facility targeting clients like Alibaba. The airline also operates MRO services, accredited by the FAA and EASA, and provides training through its Aviation Academy, producing pilots and technicians since 1964 and 1967, respectively.