Ethiopian Launches Mobile SMS based Flight Status Information and Cargo Shipment Tracking Service

Press Release

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest and most profitable airline in Africa, is pleased to announce the commencement of Mobile Short Message Service (SMS) information system for customers in Ethiopia starting November 21, 2014.

The service will allow Ethiopian customers to check flight status and cargo shipment information by sending a mobile short code SMS text to the ethiotelecom 8611 messaging number instead of the regular mobile or fixed line call to Ethiopian Central Call Center.

The commencement of this mobile SMS service delivers information requested by customers instantly with the normal ethiotelecom SMS charge to customer enhancing the service quality and accessibility.

The service will allow Ethiopian customer to check flight availability, departure/arrival time, flight status and Cargo shipment tracking information instantly. Persons welcoming passengers on Ethiopian flights can now check the exact arrival time of expected flights with simply texting 8611 with “f” followed by the flight number or “R” followed by the route they are expecting. At the same time, cargo customers may track the whereabouts of their shipment by texting “c” followed by their Air Way Bill number of shipment without the need to come to Ethiopian Airlines Cargo terminal prior to the arrival of the shipment.

Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, said: “with the recent trends of the glob spinning hi-tech by the day, it is critical for Ethiopian Airlines to adopt a social business philosophy. We work hard to avail information at the fingertip of our customers in an effort to create friendly customer experience for our customers.”

Ethiopian will continuously work in improving customer experience and the mobile SMS service will soon come with more features.

Here you can click to access the guideline: Ethiopian Mobile SMS Guideline

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa. In 2014, IATA ranked Ethiopian as the largest airline in Africa in revenue and profit. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has been a pioneer of African aviation as an aircraft technology leader providing the first jet service in the continent in 1962, and availing the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010 and the first African and second only to Japan B787 Dreamliner in 2012.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 83 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units: Ethiopian International Passenger Service; Ethiopian Regional Service; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Service and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning, including SKYTRAX and Passenger Choice Awards in 2013 and has been registering an average growth of 25% per annum in the past seven years.

For more information about this press release, please contact:
Manager PR & Publications
Ethiopian Airlines
Tel: (251-1) 517-84-07

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