fuel-efficient regional aircraft (Fokker 50s
being replaced by Bombardier Q400s). When
Girma arrived, the airline carried on average
1.2 million passengers per year, but ve years
later, the number had increased to 3.2 million.
The airline grew by an average of 25% per
year and became a billion dollar company
in 2009. Pro ts jumped from around £7m to
£35m between 2005 and 2010. Wake created
1,500 new jobs and the average pay of
employees increased by 167%. Other drivers
in the improvement in performance were:
Codeshares rising from one to 12;
Becoming a member of the Star Alliance;
More destinations on the route map;
Linking with economic growth centres in
Africa, Asia and Latin America;
Growing cargo revenues from charters to
Europe, Middle East and Asia and additional
frequencies to Hong Kong and Chennai.
In 2005, Ethiopian Airlines became the
African launch carrier for the new Boeing 787-
8 Dreamliner with a rm order for ten jets and
an option for ve more. It expected delivery
at the beginning of 2011 but the rst aircraft
didn’t arrive until August 14, 2012, because
of delays at Boeing. Rotations to African
destinations including Mombasa, Kilimanjaro,
Harare, Lusaka, Nairobi and Entebbe were
served by the new aircraft.
The carrier’s decision to y the
Dreamliner primarily to Africa was a show
of its commitment to continue serving the
continent. That year, the company entered into
a long-term lease agreement with ILFC for
an additional three 787s, which would bring
the Dreamliner eet to 13 by 2015. By 2009,
the airline had already ordered ve Boeing
777-200LRs (followed by another one in 2012)
as well as 14 Airbus A350-900s and Q400s.
It had also leased two McDonnell Douglas
MD-11 freighters (one in January 2009, the
second in September of the same year) to
supplement its cargo eet. They remained
in service until 2015. A third – also leased –
example brie y boosted the eet between
July and August 2006. In 2010, Ethiopian
placed an order for ten Diamond Aircraft
DA40 NGs (replacing Cessna 172s): the rst
investment in new training aircraft for 35 years.
This greatly helped to improve the quality of
training. On November 20, 2015, Ethiopian
also dispatched its rst-ever ight operated
by an all-female crew. The airline hoped the
move would promote women’s empowerment
and encourage more African girls to consider
a career in aviation. Figures from last year
show the airline had nearly 11,300 employees,
about a third of whom are women, most often
ight attendants or at check-in.
The rst Q400s arrived on March 21,
2010, enabling the Fokker 50s to be retired
from the eet by 2011.
In 2010, Boeing revealed an order for ten
737-800s would join the carrier’s inventory.
These investments would enable Ethiopian
Airlines to operate one of the youngest
eets in Africa. And in 2011, a contract was
signed for four 777Fs, making the airline
the rst African carrier to order the twin-
engine freighter. In June of the same year,
it had already leased two 777Fs for ten
years from GECAS. They replaced two 757-200 converted freighters. In 2011, Tewolde
GebreMariam took over from Wake as CEO
of Ethiopian Airlines and started implementing
his ‘Vision 2025’. For current outstanding
orders see the eet table.AMBITIONS
Under Vision 2025, the airline further
expanded its network to more than 100
international destinations. In May 2013
it began ying to Seoul, which as the
capital of South Korea, is the fourth largest
metropolitan economy in the world. In July
of the same year, Rio de Janeiro and São
Paulo were added – Brazil also boasting one
of the fastest growing global economies. On
April 1, 2014 Shanghai joined the network
putting Ethiopian Airlines on the ourishing
China-India-Africa-Brazil trade lane. As a
long-term company policy, revenues are also
generated by providing aircraft maintenance
to foreign airlines and specialist training for
both Ethiopian and overseas trainees. A
series of pro table alliances and minorhttp://www.aviation-news.co.uk 51
1.2 million passengers per year, but ve years
later, the number had increased to 3.2 million.
The airline grew by an average of 25% per
African launch carrier for the new Boeing 787-African launch carrier for the new Boeing 787-
The rst 767-200ER for the airline was delivered in 1984.
AirTeamImages/Carl FordPrior to the arrival of 737-800s and 787-8s, Boeing’s
757 had been a mainstay of the eet. Jozef Mols
Two Boeing 757 freighters remain in service despite six 777Fs being in the eet. Boeing