Ethiopian Airlines has been the fastest-growing airline in Africa over the past decade or so. It has succeeded where many other airlines have struggled, largely due to a strong plan set out in 2010. In December 2020, it won the best African airline award in the Decade of Airline Excellence Awards. How has it risen to this level? Ethiopian Airlines has risen quickly to become the largest in Africa. Photo: Getty Images The origins of Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines began was founded in 1945 and started flights in 1946. Emperor Haile Selassie I asked foreign countries to assist the modernization of the country and the foundation of a new airline. With backing from TWA, it acquired five Douglas C-47 aircraft from the US government and began regional flights from Addis Ababa. The first regular flights were to Cairo and Asmara. Khartoum, Djibouti, and Aden were soon added. Flights further afield began in 1948 with Bombay.
The airline received further funding in 1950 from the US Export-Import Bank. This helped it acquire newer Convair aircraft and start flights to Europe. Another loan saw the DC-6 introduced in 1956. An Ethiopian Airlines DC6. Photo: Ken Fielding via Wikimedia . Expansion in the 1980s and 1990s
Ethiopian was the first African airline to order the Boeing 767, with delivery in 1984. By the end of the 1990s, it was also flying to South Africa (Johanessburg), Asia (Beijing and Bangkok were the first destinations), and the US (New York and Washington DC). Its role as a global hub airline was well on the way to developing. Ethiopian Airlines 767 in early livery. Photo: Kambui via Wikimedia South African Airways was a major competitor at the time, also developing global connections. It had started flights to Europe in 1945, Australia in 1958 (Perth with a DC7 aircraft), and New York in 1968. It took delivery of its first 747 in 1971 (and went on to operate 23) and began longer routes, including Seattle, Hong Kong, and Taipei. South African Airways was a much larger airline than Ethiopian Airlines. Photo: Aero Icarus via Wikimedia South African Airways’ growth was to hit problems, though. There were troubles in the country under apartheid during the 1980s. And due to international opposition, many flights were stopped. This included all flights to the US and Australia. While they served different markets, the problems at South African likely gave Ethiopian Airlines […]
