Ethiopian Airlines has steadily positioned itself as one of Africa’s most influential aviation players, connecting the continent internally and linking it to the rest of the world.
In a recent conversation with SABC specialist correspondent Sophie Mokoena, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele outlined the airline’s ambitious expansion strategy, the development of a new mega airport in Addis Ababa, and the innovative steps that allowed the carrier to remain profitable during the global COVID-19 crisis.
At the core of Ethiopian Airlines’ strategy is sustained and structured growth.
Bekele explained that the airline is expanding its network by acquiring new aircraft, increasing flight frequencies, and broadening its reach both within Africa and internationally.
This expansion is not limited to route development alone.
The company is also continuously enhancing service standards and operational efficiency, which has led to growing traffic volumes and strong financial performance.
Despite global industry volatility, Ethiopian Airlines has remained profitable and continues to generate solid returns.
According to Bekele, profitability has been sustained through a clear long-term strategy built on continuous growth.
Supporting that strategy requires significant investment in internal capacity.
The airline has placed particular emphasis on human resource development, training aviation professionals across multiple disciplines to ensure that operational excellence matches expansion ambitions.
Beyond workforce development, Ethiopian Airlines has invested heavily in infrastructure, including aircraft maintenance facilities and airport-related projects.
These initiatives aim to create a self-reliant aviation ecosystem capable of supporting both current operations and future growth.
A key element of this growth vision is the construction of a new mega airport in Addis Ababa.
As announced earlier by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, the country is building a major new airport designed to transform Addis Ababa into a global aviation hub.
Bekele confirmed that the project is central to the airline’s long-term objectives.
Ethiopian Airlines today operates as a diversified group encompassing airlines, airports, and hospitality businesses.
The new airport will reinforce this integrated model and position the airline group as a major global connector.
The scale of the planned airport expansion is significant.
The new facility will initially have a passenger handling capacity 2.
5 times greater than the current airport, accommodating up to 60 million passengers per year.
In its second phase, that capacity could expand further to approximately 110 million passengers annually.
Such figures place Addis Ababa among the world’s largest aviation hubs.
The objective is clear: to create a gateway that efficiently connects Africa to global destinations while strengthening intra-African travel.
Bekele emphasized that the airport’s development is not merely about infrastructure expansion but about enhancing connectivity.
Ethiopian Airlines aims to use Addis Ababa as a central global hub, facilitating seamless travel between Africa and other continents.
The airline anticipates that once completed, the new airport will attract both African and international carriers, further increasing traffic and reinforcing its hub strategy.
The airline’s growth story, however, is particularly remarkable given the severe challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global aviation industry was among the hardest hit sectors during the crisis, with many airlines grounding fleets and suffering massive financial losses.
Bekele described the pandemic period as a defining moment in Ethiopian Airlines’ history.
While most passenger operations were halted worldwide, Ethiopian Airlines pivoted rapidly from passenger services to cargo operations.
Instead of grounding its fleet entirely, the airline shifted its operational focus to freight transport.
It played a critical role in delivering medical equipment, COVID-19 test kits, and personal protective equipment across Africa and beyond.
Ethiopian Airlines did not rely solely on its dedicated cargo aircraft.
In an innovative move, it temporarily converted some passenger aircraft into cargo carriers to meet surging demand for essential goods transport.
This strategic shift allowed the airline to maintain revenue streams during a period when passenger travel had virtually collapsed.
Although overall profits declined compared to pre-pandemic levels, the airline remained profitable.
Bekele highlighted that Ethiopian Airlines not only preserved financial stability but also fulfilled an essential service role for African countries in urgent need of medical supplies.
The ability to adapt quickly and reallocate resources proved decisive in weathering the storm.
The resilience demonstrated during COVID-19 reinforced the airline’s reputation for operational agility and strategic foresight.
Rather than relying on government bailouts or prolonged shutdowns, Ethiopian Airlines leveraged its cargo expertise and infrastructure investments to sustain its operations.
This approach strengthened its balance sheet and positioned it for accelerated recovery once global travel resumed.
Partnerships form another critical pillar of Ethiopian Airlines’ expansion strategy.
Bekele noted that the airline has already partnered with four African governments to establish national carriers in Togo, Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These partnerships focus on developing domestic and regional connectivity while benefiting from Ethiopian Airlines’ operational experience and network strength.
The establishment of these joint airlines enables improved intra-African connectivity, which has historically lagged behind other regions.
By collaborating with local governments and leveraging shared commercial arrangements, Ethiopian Airlines helps create viable national carriers while expanding its influence across the continent.
Commercial cooperation between these carriers enhances route networks and provides passengers with smoother travel options both within Africa and internationally.
Bekele stressed that these partnerships are designed to create a stronger continental aviation network.
By improving domestic and regional services, passengers gain better access to global destinations through Addis Ababa’s hub.
This aligns with the airline’s broader goal of transforming Africa’s aviation landscape and reducing reliance on non-African transit hubs.
The anticipated completion of the new mega airport is expected to amplify these partnership benefits.
With expanded capacity and modern infrastructure, Addis Ababa will serve as a powerful anchor for African aviation integration.
Ethiopian Airlines expects that many international carriers will utilize the new facility, further boosting traffic flows and commercial opportunities.
The airline’s integrated group structure also contributes to its competitive edge.
Operating not only airlines but also airport and hospitality businesses allows Ethiopian Airlines to capture value across multiple segments of the travel ecosystem.
This diversification enhances revenue resilience and supports large-scale infrastructure investments.
Bekele’s remarks reflect a long-term vision grounded in growth, resilience, and connectivity.
Ethiopian Airlines is not simply expanding for scale but strategically positioning itself as Africa’s primary aviation bridge to the world.
Continuous fleet acquisition, service enhancement, infrastructure development, and human capital investment all support this ambition.
The new Addis Ababa airport represents more than a construction project; it symbolizes Africa’s rising presence in global aviation.
By planning for up to 110 million passengers annually in its second phase, Ethiopian Airlines signals confidence in sustained demand growth and increasing integration between African economies and global markets.
As global travel rebounds and competition intensifies, Ethiopian Airlines appears determined to maintain its leadership role.
The experience gained during the pandemic has reinforced its adaptability, while strategic partnerships deepen its continental footprint.
With its focus on connectivity, profitability, and infrastructure, the airline aims to ensure that Addis Ababa becomes a central node in global air travel networks.
Ultimately, Ethiopian Airlines’ trajectory illustrates how strategic planning and operational flexibility can turn crisis into opportunity.
From shifting to cargo during the pandemic to building one of Africa’s largest aviation hubs, the airline continues to expand its influence.
Its long-term objective remains clear: to serve as a global hub connecting Africa with the rest of the world through reliable, efficient, and integrated aviation services.
