Ethiopian Performance in MRO Lauded

Addis Ababa, April 25, 2024 (ENA) The success of Ethiopian Airlines is not only on the passenger side but also in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), Fairfax Africa Fund Global Chairman Zemedeneh Negatu said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the chairman said Ethiopian Airlines has a very large MRO shop, which is one of the biggest in the world and the best in the world to maintain modern aircrafts.

It’s a very well-known organization for maintaining aircrafts, not only for itself but other airlines send their aircraft here, he added.

According to Zemedeneh, Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest airline in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

“Its success is not only predicated on its ability to transport passengers from around the world, but also its ability to maintain these very sophisticated, very expensive aircrafts.”

Moreover, Bole International Airport is today the largest gateway for travel into and out of Africa.

“On top of that, Ethiopian Airlines, which travels from Africa to other parts of the world and into Africa, is bigger than Emirates, Turkish, and Lufthansa combined in Africa.”

One of the challenges a lot of African airlines face in addition to not being able to afford to acquire aircraft is not being able to find affordable and quality MRO services on the continent, the chairman said.

 

He added that African carriers used to send or send their aircraft to Europe or in some cases all the way to the United States to repair and maintain their aircraft at very expensive rates, whereas Ethiopian Airlines, certified by all the manufacturers, is right here in Africa.

Presently, however, Zemedeneh said that you see aircraft from many African countries, including Nigeria and Rwanda, among others. 

The pan-Africanism that we talk about is being demonstrated clearly to the active support of Ethiopian Airlines for other African carriers, he noted.

“I think it is a testament to what happens when you have investment, vision, determination and the capacity to deliver something that used to be considered stuff to be done in Europe, stuff to be done in America, is done in Africa right here in Ethiopia.”

The chairman pointed out that Ethiopian Airlines has been doing this for a very long time. The airline has been around for almost 75 years, but the maintenance shop has also been around for decades. 

The airline has the expertise and is benefiting other African carriers as well, he stated.

Recognizing the necessity of effective MRO services for the smooth operation and success of an airline, Ethiopian Airlines operates a modern MRO facility at its hub in Addis Ababa, established in 1957, and developed over the years.