🇪🇹EthiopiaEast Africa
Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines mark decades of partnership and future growth plans
via The Reporter Ethiopia6 min read
This month, Ethiopian Airlines celebrates 80 years since its first commercial flight, and later this year, it will commemorate 64 years since ordering its first aircraft from Boeing. The two companies have maintained a strong relationship for over six decades, with Boeing jets forming a significant portion of Ethiopian Airlines' fleet. Boeing also opened an office in Addis Ababa last year. As Ethiopian Airlines develops a multi-billion dollar airport in Bishoftu, it plans to expand its fleet with 19 new Boeing jets, including nine 787 Dreamliners. Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing's vice president of commercial sales and marketing for Africa, highlighted the long-standing partnership. He noted that Ethiopian Airlines was the first African airline to enter the jet age in 1962 with the Boeing 720B, and has consistently been among the first in Africa to introduce new Boeing aircraft, enabling its growth from a regional to a global carrier. Boeing's contributions include strategic partnerships, capacity building, and talent development, such as an MoU signed in 2019 to position Ethiopia as Africa's aviation hub, focusing on industrial development, advanced training, and leadership development. Boeing also collaborates with Cranfield University and Ethiopian Aviation University on training programs and community initiatives. Ethiopian Airlines' success is attributed to its consistent growth strategy, early adoption of advanced aircraft technology, and sustained investment in training and
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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