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Tag: Ethiopian airline

  • Ethiopian Airline gets 100th aircraft 

    Ethiopian Airlines will take delivery of its 100th aircraft, a Boeing 787-900, on June 5.

    It is the first African airline to operate a 100-aircraft fleet, thus maintaining its aviation technology leadership role and ascertaining its position in all aspects of aviation services on the continent.

    Its Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde Gebre Mariam, said: “It is an immense honour for all of us at Ethiopian to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft.

    ‘’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.

    Ethiopian was the first to avail jet service on 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.

    Ethiopian operates one of the youngest and most modern 100 aircraft, with an average age of less than five  years. Fleet modernisation and expansion is one of the four critical pillars of our Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, in support of our fast-expanding network, which has reached over 110 international destinations covering  five  continents.

    “Our new and cutting-edge fleet composed of B787s and A350s offer unparalleled on-board comfort to our customers and offer the best possible connections when traveling within Africa and between the continent and the rest of the world.

    ‘’This 100 fleet milestone, which we have achieved ahead of our Vision 2025 targets, compels us to revise our plans with a view to phase in more aircraft and further expand our network so as to meet the growing travel needs of our continent and support its economic development and integration by facilitating the flow of investment, trade and tourism.’’

  • Ethiopian Airline lands as Abuja runway opens

    Ethiopian Airline lands as Abuja runway opens

    •Passengers, envoy hail airport’s reopening six weeks after

    Buhari delighted

    President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the
    ministries and others behind the successful repair of
    Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway, 24 hours ahead of schedule.
    He lauded the ministries of Transport, Power, Works and
    Housing, security agencies, Kaduna State Government, the contractor, Julius Berger and others.
    The President said he looked forward to such display of inter-agency cooperation and efficiency in the operation of the entire Federal Government machinery.
    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also thanked Ethiopian Airlines for cooperating with the Nigerian government during the period of the closure of airport.
    He described it as a good example of intra-African cooperation.

    Ethiopian Airline flight A350-XWB yesterday landed about 12:07pm at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, a few hours to the official opening of its runway.
    The runway, which was closed for six weeks, will be officially opened for traffic today.
    Speaking to reporters before the aircraft landed, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the runway’s rehabilitation was completed on schedule.
    He added that though the reopening date was meant to be today, it was not bad to reopen a day earlier.
    Said the minister: “April 19 was the due date for opening the airport, but due to earlier delivery than anticipated, there is nothing wrong with opening it a day earlier as we have achieved the target.
    “Other works like the taxi way markings are still going on. It is non-critical routine that will continue, but the safety critical matters have been dealt with. The runway has been completed totally and it’s in perfect shape
    “I just landed now on the same runway. The final exercise was this morning and the friction test was carried out and they found out that it meets international standard and the ICAO standard and recommended practices.
    “So, the runway is safe, it’s good, it’s perfect and we thank all of you for bearing with us.
    “We are celebrating because we set out to achieve a target and we have achieved it.
    “We thank Allah for his guidance; we thank His Excellency for his support. I also wish to thank all my colleagues, who did it all, and the media and the Nigerian people for standing by us,” he said.
    Sirika lauded Nigerians and air travellers for their resilience during the closure of the airport.
    But some passengers aboard Ethiopian airline hailed the Federal Government for delivering as promised.
    Most of the passengers, who The Nation spoke with at the arrival lounge, said they thought the runway won’t be re-opened as promised.
    Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria Prof Gabor Ternak, who was at the airport, said the example set by the Nigerian government was record breaking to other countries.
    “It was a surprise that the Abuja airport would be re-opened on the schedule much less, a day earlier. I was really surprised.”
    “I did not anticipate that the airport would be ready tomorrow, how much more a day earlier. This is really a change government and it speaks volume of the country to other countries of the world.”
    Another passenger, Ibrahim Dikko, said: “It is something that all Nigerians should be proud of and it’s an indication that if we put our mind to something, it can be achieved.
    A Hungarian passenger, who was aboard the Ethiopian aircraft, Dr. Gabor Baranyi, said passengers were told they would land in Kaduna, but at the last minute, it was announced that the aircraft would land in Abuja.
    Baranyi said: “It was a smooth journey and landing in Abuja. I must say l didn’t expect to land in Abuja but it was really good to land in Abuja again after six weeks.”
    A United States citizen, Mrs. Adrienne Cox, who was elated to land in Abuja, said she could not hide her joy of landing straight in Abuja without the hassle of landing in Kaduna before coming to Abuja by rail or road.
    “I am so happy that the aircraft landed in Abuja. It was like a dream because we were told that it would land in Kaduna,” she said.
    An 18-year-old passenger, Abdullahi Aliyu, said it was a surprise to land in Abuja.

  • Only Ethiopian airline to fly to Kaduna airport

    Only Ethiopian airline to fly to Kaduna airport

    •Fed Govt plans tight security, emergency medicare

    THE Federal Government said yesterday that tight security has been put in place on Kaduna highway, few hours to the closure of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport,Abuja for runway repair.
    It added that there will be heavy security presence in every five kilometres along the route.
    But despite the assurance, only Ethiopian airline has agreed to fly to Kaduna.
    Two other airlines – Turkish Airways and Lufthansa – are yet to decide if they would fly the route during the six-week closure.
    The government said talks are ongoing with the two airlines and their stance would be made public soon.
    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and others said this in Abuja yesterday at a ministerial press briefing on the airport closure.
    Sirika said: “We are going ahead with the closure of the airport as announced and it will be done by midnight of March 8.”
    He emphasised that the closure would not exceed the stipulated six weeks.
    On the number of foreign airlines that will fly to Kaduna, Sirika said: “So far, we have Ethiopian airline. They said they would be coming with a brand new airplane, the latest aircraft in the whole world – 787.
    “We are still talking with Lufthansa and Turkish airline on their intent to come. We may conclude today. At the end of the day, we will know if they would or not.”
    On information about movement of passengers and flight schedule, passengers were advised to visit www.abujaairport closure.info.
    On the losses that airline operators would incur following the closure, the government said the loss would be in the interest of safety and could not be compared to the lives of travellers.
    On how much the repair work will cost, the minister said: “I do not have the exact figure now. But I know the contractors were paid in excess of N5 billion.”
    He added that bus and train service for passengers from and to Abuja would be free.
    Sirika said there will also be helicopter arrangement for those who can afford it.
    On security arrangements, Idris said the police have deployed various units to ensure safety and security of passengers.
    Some of the units deployed are: Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Mobile Police Force (MPF), Force Animal Branch (FAB) and the airwing.
    Idris said: “All units have been fully deployed. Patrol vehicles, helicopters to cover the airport and some of the flashpoint areas like Katari. We will ensure periodic surveillance.
    “Also, at every five kilometres on the road, officers of the police will be on ground to ensure adequate security.”
    On the level of preparedness of Kaduna airport, Mohammed said: “After inspection of the airport on Friday by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, the summary of the inspection is that the airport is not ready 100 per cent, but it is suitable enough for operation.”
    On his part, Amaechi said: “We have kept to the promise we made that all will be ready for flight operation to Kaduna. The only area we seem to have problem is the terminal building and it will be completed before Saturday.”
    The Federal Government has approved the Nigeria Air Force ( NAF) Base Hospital, 44 Army Hospital and the St. Geralds Catholic Hospital located in Kaduna State for emergency operation.
    Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire broke the news at the weekend when he embarked on facility tour of the hospitals chosen for referrals ahead of the temporary closure of the Abuja airport.

  • FG assures of seamless operation at Kaduna airport

    FG assures of seamless operation at Kaduna airport

    The Federal Government on Monday announced its readiness to ensure seamless operation at Kaduna International Airport as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja closes on March 8 for runway repairs.

    The Minster of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this during a World News Conference organided by the ministry in Abuja.

    The news conference featured the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahi Idris.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, was also represented at the news conference.

    Mohammed said the Acting President had inspected Kaduna airport and the rail station to ascertain the level of readiness to ensure smooth operation during the six-week closure period.

    He said that the summary of the findings during the inspection was that even though the airport might not be 100 per cent ready, its current state was suitable enough for the operation.

    The minister also disclosed that the repair work on the Abuja-Kaduna highway had been completed to ensure smooth passage for Abuja bound passengers.

    “As you are all aware, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja will shut from the midnight of Tuesday March 7 to the Wednesday March 8 for the purpose of repairing the failed portion of the airport runway.

    “During that time, Abuja flights will be diverted to Kaduna.

    “On Friday, the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo inspected the Kaduna airport and the railway station to ascertain the state of readiness.

    “The summary of the finding is that while the airport may not be 100 per cent ready, by the time Abuja airport is shut, it will indeed be suitable enough,’’ he said.

    Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said the government had concluded arrangements to provide free transportation service for Abuja-bound passengers to and from Kaduna.

    Amaechi said that the train services would be rearranged to suit the flight schedules at Kaduna airport, adding that the train would be coming from Kaduna instead of the current arrangement.

    He said the Kaduna airport runway was in perfect shape, adding that it was a portion of the terminal building that was yet to be completed as at Friday.

    According to him, the work was nearing completion as at that day and the contractor promised to deliver it before the deadline.

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Sirika, craved the indulgence of air travelers to bear with the government on the closure.

    He said that the decision was for safety reasons, which is the key word in aviation sector.

    The minister said the part of the Kaduna airport terminal building had been completed as at this morning, adding that much work had been done to ensure smooth operation.

    According to him, the ministry has provided a dedicated website (www.abujaairportclosure.info) to update airport users on the operations at Kaduna during the period.

    Sirika said the government had no other option than to shut the Abuja airport runway considering the level of dilapidation that had made it to fail completely.

    He said that Kaduna airport would remain a seasonal international airport even after the six weeks period until it met the requirements to be a designated international airport.

    According to him, Ethiopian Airline is the only foreign airline that has expressed its readiness to fly the airport so far but at the end we expect more to operate the airport.

    The minister reiterated the government’s plan to concession all the airports for efficiency beginning from the big four such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

    “We have already concluded the arrangement for the appointment of transaction adviser that will commence work in a matter of weeks,’’ he said.

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, assured that the police had made adequate security plans to ensure seamless operation between Abuja and Kaduna airports.

    Idris said the police force had enough capacity and capability to carry out efficient surveillance on the road, the rail line and air during the six weeks.

    According to him, he was in Kaduna on Sunday to conduct assessment of security in the airport, on the road and the rail at Jere and Idu stations.

    “In the whole, our deployment on the ground is perfect because we have the various units of the Nigeria Police Force in charge of specialized units.

    “We have the force Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), we have the force animals in charge of dogs; we have the patrolling team and the mobile force as well as the air wing.

    “As I stated, all the units are deployed fully on ground,’’ he said.

     

  • Swiss police confirm Ethiopian plane hijack

    An Ethiopian Airlines plane en route from Addis Ababa to Rome has been forced to land in Geneva after being hijacked, Swiss police say.

    One hijacker has been arrested. The airline said in a statement that all passengers and crew were safe.

    There are no injuries, and the police say the situation is “under control.”

    Flight 702 was scheduled to leave Addis Ababa at 00:30 local time (21:30 GMT), and arrive in Rome at 04:40 local time. Geneva airport has now reopened.

    Geneva airport said departures would resume at 08:15 (07:15 GMT) and arrivals at 08:45 (07:45 GMT).

    A recording of one of the pilots appears to show him requesting asylum in an exchange with Geneva air traffic control, the BBC reports.

    Geneva police confirmed the plane – a Boeing 767-300 – had made an unscheduled landing in the Swiss city at 06:00.

     

  • Lawyer sues Ethiopian airline for missing luggage

    An Abuja based lawyer, Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, has filed a N16.8 million suit before a Federal High Court, Abuja against Ethiopian Airlines over alleged breach of contract and missing luggage.

    In a motion filed before the court,  Malik, who claimed to have travelled with the Airline from United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria on September 10, 2012, was asking for the payment of N16, 882, 500 million as general, aggravated and exemplary damages against the company for his inability to get his luggage as and when due.

    Malik claimed to have travelled with the airline from UAE with two different luggages weighing 20 kg each, which were properly tagged.

    He said on arrival in Abuja,  he could not find one of the luggages as it got missing.

    He said the missing luggage was found 11 days after and he had suffered so much discomfort, pain, and also made repayment for several goods he bought for his friend who was getting married.

    The plaintiff, therefore,  prayed the court for an order among others declaring that the airline owes him a duty as a customer by virtue of contract of carriage between him and the company, “to deliver promptly to the plaintiff at his final destination the two bags which he checked into the defendant’s operated flight,”

    He also wants the court to declare “that the act or action of the defendant in refusing, failing or neglecting to deliver to the plaintiff his luggage 11 days after same was accepted by the defendant and checked-into the defendant’s operated flight, is disrespectful, dishonourable, un-dignifying, discourteous, condemnable, primitive, wicked, inconsiderate, insensitive and a breach of the contract of carriage between the plaintiff and the defendant.”

    He is, therefore, asking for payment of damages in the sum of N16, 882, 500 million as general, aggravated and exemplary damages covering “the extra money expended by the plaintiff to replace some items, to wit, school shoes, bags and lunch boxes for his children, contained in his luggage which was held for 11 days by the defendant,  N315, 000, representing the money given out by the plaintiff to his friend for the two suits and wedding rings.

    The plaintiff also asked the court for  N5,000,000, as general damages for the alleged unjustifiable breach of the contract of carriage of goods and N10 million on the footing of aggravated and exemplary damages; and N1.5 million, being the cost of prosecuting the case.

    Beside, the plaintiff was asking for an order of court directing the airline to publish  an undertaking in a national newspaper and on its website a written apology for the alleged embarrassment and financial losses incurred because of the incident.

    In his 43 paragraph in support of the motion, the plaintiff averred that he embarked on a trip to Dubai on September 1, 2012 with the defendant’s airline and arrived safely at Dubai, UAE.

    He said that at the end of his trip to Dubai, he presented himself on September 9, 2012 at the Ethiopian Airlines check-in counter at the Dubai International Airport with two boxes, each weighing 20kg for the purpose of checking in into his flights No. ET 0911 (ADDIS ABABA – ABUJA) to Addis Ababa and the connecting flight to Abuja, his final destination.

    But on arrival in Abuja, he discovered that the airline did not come with his full luggage, until 11 days after same was accepted by the defendant and checked-into the defendant’s operated flight.

    He added that up till September 12, 2012, he neither received his luggage from the defendant nor got the courtesy of a telephone call or Short Message Service (SMS) to even explain or apologise to him over the undue delay in getting his luggage to him, which prompted him to institute the action.