Original Story Published by: Abdi Latif Dahir for Quartz Africa
Photo Source: Quartz Africa
Ethiopian Airlines is undisputedly Africa’s largest airline by revenue and profit. Yet the state-owned carrier just doesn’t want to dominate the continent’s skies: it’s also looking to boost Africa’s fragmented airspace through increased connectivity, forming strategic alliances, besides launching or reviving new sovereign African airlines.
Ethiopian’s latest pitch is that it shouldn’t just be Africa’s top airline in passenger numbers and destinations but also in its ownership structure. The company’s head Tewolde Gabremariam, suggested the airline should be co-owned by African governments. Tewolde said Ethiopia’s government should capitalize on the airline’s stature to consolidate its place in the African continent. “As a Pan-African airline, I don’t see any reason why we should not sell the minority shares of Ethiopian Airlines to African countries if they are interested in buying.”
Tewolde says they hope to replicate the past “exceptional year” in the 2018/19 fiscal year.
More than anything, Tewolde’s bullish statement is reflective of the bold new era in Ethiopia. Since prime minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in April, he has overseen radical reforms that have changed the country’s trajectory. These include introducing a major policy aimed at loosening the government’s monopoly on several key economic sectors, including aviation and telecommunications.
To read the full article, visit Quartz Africa.
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