How Ethiopian Airlines has come to the fore in Africa

There is no shortage of lofty long-term growth plans in the airline industry. But as it approaches the halfway stage of its ambitious 15-year strategic vision, Ethiopian Airlines can point to its outpacing of rivals on the African continent.

The fortunes of network-carrier rivals EgyptAir, Kenya Airways and South African Airways have in recent years faltered for a variety of reasons, while Africa’s early adopters of the low-cost carrier model have struggled to make headway in its fragmented skies.

But since embarking on the 15-year plan in 2011, Ethiopian Airlines has charted a relatively stable path to establish itself as region’s biggest carrier.

“When we planned [Vision] 2025, we were the fourth-biggest airline in Africa, behind SAA, EgyptAir and Kenya Airways. But now we are number one, by far,” noted chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam during an interview with reporters in London on 8 November.

Read more at: Flight Global