Aviation 12

A

spectacular transformation is

being driven at Ethiopian Airlines

as a 15-year plan, known as

Vision 2025, is implemented. The

 eet and route network has been expanded

and the company is making strategic

investments in other African carriers to

advance aviation co-operation throughout

the continent. The company’s footprint is

now worldwide and passenger numbers

have shot up – as have pro ts.

The company was established in

1945 and in June that year an Ethiopian

delegation approached the United States for

assistance in setting up a commercial airline.

The State Department arranged meetings

between the Ethiopian officials and Brigadier

General Thomas Wilson, chairman of

Transcontinental & Western Air (later known

as TWA). The Americans were keen to help

because of Ethiopia’s strategic position in

the Horn of Africa, on the eastern side of the

continent, near the Red Sea.

FIRST FLIGHTS

On September 8, 1945, an agreement was

signed between the US airline and John

H Spencer, the foreign affairs adviser to

Ethiopia, to establish a commercial aviation

company in the country. Ethiopian Air Lines

(EAL) began life on December 21, 1945,

with an initial investment of 2.5 million

Ethiopian Birr (about £75,000), represented

by 25,000 shares, held exclusively by the

nation’s government.

Fitawrari Tafasse Habte Mikael,

the country’s Minister of Works and

Communications, became the  rst president

and chairman of the carrier. But the company

relied on American pilots, technicians,

administrators and accountants – even the

managers came from what was to become

TWA. In fact, expatriates constituted half

of the new airline’s employees. Meanwhile

spare parts and ground equipment were

sourced from ‘TWA’ in return for payments,

based on revenue.

EAL bought its  rst aircraft in Cairo,

choosing from the large quantity of American

military surplus left in Egypt at the end of

the war. Five Douglas C-47 Skytrains were

selected and  own to Addis Ababa. The new

airline’s maiden  ight to Nairobi – in February

1946 – carried a shipment of East African

currency on behalf of the National Bank.

Revenue-earning passenger  ights began

on April 8, 1946, with a service from Addis

ETHIOPIAN

AIRLINES

AN AVIATION POWERHOUSE

Jozef Mols examines the history and growth of Ethiopian Airlines and fi nds

out the secrets of its success.

48 Aviation News incorporating Jets December 2018