ETHIOPIAN Airlines, the largest aviation group in Africa, has announced that it would take delivery of its 100th aircraft, a Boeing 787-900, early June.
Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement late May that it would be the first time for an African airline to operate a 100-aircraft fleet in the history of the continent.
‘This milestone is a continuation of our historical aviation leadership role in Africa and a testimony of the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025,’ said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam on the planned delivery of the 100th aircraft scheduled for June 5.
Ethiopian Airlines was the first to avail jet service in the continent back in 1962, and operated the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010, the first African B787-800 Dreamliner and B777-200 freighter in 2012, and the first African A350 in 2016, and the first African B787-9 aircraft in 2017, recalled the statement.
It now operates one of the youngest and most modern 100 aircraft, with an average age of less than five years. The Airline has five more Boeing 787-900 and 16 Airbus A350 airplanes on order.
Ethiopian Airlines is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan dubbed Vision 2025 to become a leading aviation group in Africa. It is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25 percent in the past seven years.