The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ethiopian

  • New Year: Ethiopia releases 8,875 prisoners

    The Ethiopian government on Tuesday released an unprecedented 8,875 prisoners as part of a goodwill Ethiopian New Year gesture.

    The Ethiopian New Year, or Enkutatash in Amharic language, falls on Sept. 11 (or Sept. 12 during a leap year), as the East African nation uses calendar that counts its year seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar.

    Presently the country is celebrating the arrival of 2011, which commenced on Sept. 11.

    The prisoners were released from prisons located in Amhara, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz and Gambella regional states and are part of the Ethiopian government strategy of fostering peace and reconciliation in the country.

    The released prisoners are expected to re-join their families and re-integrate into the wider society, with the hope they become productive and law abiding citizens of Ethiopia.

    The mass prisoner releases have included members of various rebel groups who had been jailed on offences ranging from membership in previously banned organizations to committing high treason.

    The mass prisoner releases timed to coincide with the Ethiopian New Year 2011 are part of the Ethiopian government’s call for unity and peace among the country’s estimated 100 million populations.

    Read Also: 400 prisoners escape prison in Tripoli chaos – Official

    In a televised statement at the eve of Ethiopian New Year, Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, urged Ethiopians to uphold unity and abstain from destructive acts during the 2011 Ethiopian New Year.

    Noting the release of thousands of prisoners, return of various high-profile Ethiopian opposition
    figures, activists and government critics from exile after agreements with the Ethiopian government during the past four months period, Teshome also called for building the nation together.

    The Ethiopian 2011 comes as Ethiopia seems to come out of almost three years of political turmoil following the coming of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the east African country’s leadership.

    Ahmed assumed office in April.

    Ahmed, in his New Year eve remarks to the Ethiopian people, also echoed the president’s message, saying that “Ethiopia is a country we share.

    “We have to work for peaceful co-existence and prosperity.”

  • Ethiopian scores another first

    Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, on June 6, once again leading the way in fleet expansion and modernization in Africa.

    As part of Ethiopian Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, the new aircraft has ferried medical equipment from the Seattle-based NGO, Direct Relief, to St Paulos Hospital in Addis Ababa. The shipment includes surgical stools and other medical supplies to be used for both teaching and patient care.

    Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “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 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 now operates one of the youngest and most modern 100 aircraft, with an average age of less than five years. Fleet modernization and expansion is one of the four critical pillars of our Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, in support of our fast expanding network, which has now 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.

    “We will continue to connect more and more Africans with their fellow citizens of the continent and with their brothers and sisters in the rest of the world to make life better every single day.”

  • Ethiopian Airline begins Enugu-New York flights

    Ethiopian Airline will begin three-days-a-week flights from Enugu to New York in the United States of America (U.S.A) today to enhance business in the Southeast.

    The airline’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr GebreMariam Tewolde, announced this yesterday at the 70th anniversary of Ethiopian Airline in Enugu.

    Tewolde said the airline would begin the thrice-a-week scheduled flights to New York-Newark from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 3 via Lomé, Togo, thereby connecting Enugu to New York.

    The airline chief said Ethiopian Airline would deploy a modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the route.

    He said: “For travellers flying out of Lagos through Lome to New York, the journey is about 12-hour flight as passengers will connect between New York-Newark and many cities throughout Africa.

    “At Lomé, passengers will enjoy seamless connections to and from points in West Africa with ASKY, Ethiopian partner airline based in Lomé.

    “Connections will be available to and from Abidjan, Bamako, Bissau, Brazzaville, Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, N’Djamena, Niamey, Ouagadougou, Yaoundé, among others.

  • Ethiopian All-Female Flight: Daughters of Lucy fly to Kigali

    Ethiopian All-Female Flight: Daughters of Lucy fly to Kigali

    Ethiopian Airlines  marked International Women’s Day, March 8, with an All-Women Operated Flight dispatched on the Addis Ababa  Kigali route.

    The flight was aimed at further strengthening Ethiopian corporate conviction of “Women Empowerment for a Sustainable Growth”. The Sky Lucies  operated the flight fully on the ground and in the sky from flight deck crew members and Cabin Operations to Airport Operations; Flight Dispatcher; Load Controller; Ramp Operations; On-board logistics; Aviation Safety and Security; Ticket Offices; Catering; Air Traffic Controllers and Global Call Center.

    Group CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam , said, “We are thrilled to mark March 8 with an All Women Operated Flight, which reaffirms nonexistence of gender specific profession, if equal opportunity for education is ensured for all. We sincerely believe that education is the greatest equalizer in the 21st century and that is the rationale for us to build an internationally recognized training centre, Ethiopian Aviation Academy, which has the capacity to train 4000 students annually with all the latest and next generation aviation technology training machines and facilities.

    “ We are now in a position to better serve the continent’s young men and women and equip them to win in the 21st century African Aviation development.

    “Above all, we want to inspire African girls to seriously think about careers as pilots, aircraft technicians, Cabin Crew, aircraft Engineers, aviation leadership etc.

     

  • Ethiopian acquires B-777 FFS, B-787 FFS simulator

    Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has finalized installation of Boeing 777 Flight Simulator manufactured by CAE Inc. ahead of its schedule and is now ready for training. This new B777 Flight Simulator is the fifth full flight simulator acquired, following the B767/B757, B737 NG, Q400 and the latest B787 full flight simulators which went operational back in March. The addition of this new B777 simulator is on par with the airlines Vision to be an aviation leader in Africa and to equip its manpower with the latest and state-of-the-art technology the industry has to offer.

    Ethiopian was also the first in Africa and among the very few worldwide to acquire the B787 simulator. Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: “HRD (Human Resource Development) is one the four pillars of our Vision 2025, along with Fleet, Infrastructure and Systems; since well trained, adequately experienced and performance focused aviation professionals are the engines of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth agenda. The full sufficiency in pilot training with both full flight simulators and fixed training devices for all airplane models in our service enables us to provide training to our pilots with the latest aviation technology machines. The installation of these machines in our newly built flight operations building reduce travel time to distant places for training and will increase quality time with their family at home base. Our employees are our greatest asset and the main source of our competitive advantages and we will continue to make all required investment in training and Ethiopian Aviation Academy. As Africa’s flagship carrier, Ethiopian has always been and remains aviation technology leader in the continent; we will continue to introduce the latest equipment of full flight simulators with the aim to serve not only the needs of Ethiopian but also dedicated to bridging the aviation skill gap on the continent.”

    With its ongoing plan to modernize and continue on its pioneering role to be a leader in aviation training in Africa, Ethiopian has already prepared the facility to include an A350XWB and B737Max full flight simulators. The pilot training school of Ethiopian Aviation Academy is approved by Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to give world class trainings in commercial Pilot License (CPL), Private Pilot License (PPL) and Multi Pilot License (MPL) trainings using state-of-the-art training simulators and professional instructors.

  • Award for Ethiopian Airlines

    Ethiopian Airlines, the largest, fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa has been voted and won the Passenger Choice Awards for “Best Airline in Africa” for the third time in a row at the APEX 2015 EXPO held at Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

    The Airline Passenger Experience Association is a network of the world’s leading airlines, suppliers and related companies committed to elevating the level of the airline passenger experience.

    APEX encompasses the largest and most comprehensive survey of passengers in 13 languages. It is the most important award in the airline industry since it is the customers themselves, who rate airlines based on their overall experience.

    Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines Group, Tewolde Gebre Mariam, said “As an indigenous Pan-African Global Airline, we are honoured to be recognized as “Best in Africa” for the third time in a row which once again reaffirms the high quality of the service and the products we offer. Ethiopian is above all a customer-focused airline with global standard service with superior delivery through its hallmark African flavoured Ethiopian hospitality.

    Passenger Choice Award is the most important award in our industry since it is our customers, who rate us by benchmarking our service with others in the industry.

    “The award will encourage all of us at Ethiopian to double up our efforts in the never ending pursuit of our continuous improvements in customer services both on the ground and in the air. With 91 international and 20 domestic destinations around five continents, operated with one of the youngest fleet in the industry, which is below 5 years average age; we will continue our leadership in the African Aviation industry and connecting mother Africa with its major global trading centres. I wish to thank our customers for their strong vote of confidence and for all Ethiopian employees who are working hard day-in and day-out all over the world to make Ethiopian airlines lead the African Renaissance in the 21st Century with its motto ‘The New Spirit of Africa,’ Mariam said.

  • Ethiopian ponders aircraft orders

    Ethiopian Airlines is considering placing orders for Boeing 777-X, Airbus 350-1000 and Bombardier Q400 aircraft, part of plans to nearly double its fleet to 150 by 2025, its chief executive said.

    The state-owned airline is also in talks with Airbus to bring forward the delivery of 14 A350-900 to 2016-2017 from an original target of 2016-2018, Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Tewolde GebreMariam told reporters at the launch of the airline’s first direct flight to Manila.

    “We have 76 aircraft operating, 47 in order. We are evaluating the Boeing 777-X, Airbus A350-1000 and Bombardier Q400,” GebreMariam said. “The target is to reach 150 fleet by 2025.”

    Last month, Boeing said Ethiopian Airlines ordered six 787-8 Dreamliners worth $1.3 billion at list prices, part of the airline’s plans to modernise and expand its fleet.

    GebreMariam said the airline was looking to revise upwards its 2025 target of $10 billion annual revenues alongside a rapid expansion of its routes.

  • Ethiopian Airline bags awards

    Ethiopian airlines has emerged African airline of the year at the Akwaaba African Market in Lagos.

    The airline also carted away the best African airline to West Africa.

    While the country’s airport, the Bole International airport, Addis Ababa also won the most passenger friendly airport in East Africa.

    In other award categories, Arik Air won the best airline in West Africa, while Asky Air took away the award for the best short haul airline in West Africa.

    Others include, best tourism marketing company won by South African Tourism, the Best Hotel in West Africa, won by Four Point Sheraton and Biggest hotel chain in African which was taken home by Protea Hotel. La Campagne Tropicana, Ikegun emerged the best beach resort in West Africa, Obudu Moutain Resort won the best resort in West Africa, Calabar Festival won the best Carnival, while Mr Adrian Landry won the best hotel manager among others.

    At the event, Capt. Irene Koki Mutungi was honoured by Women in Aviation (Nigeria) International-Glowing Wings Chapter in partnership with Akwaaba.

  • Ethiopian writes off Fast jet Africa dreams

    Ethiopian writes off Fast jet Africa dreams

    Africa is not ready for airlines such as Fastjet, the brainchild of EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, says the head of the continent’s leading carrier.

    Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam said this at the Aviation Club in London recently. According to him:“We have a different view of the low-cost model in Africa because cross-border traffic in Africa is fragmented.”

    Gebremariam said: “Low-cost carriers are based on utilising aircraft 10 times a day, then unit costs come down. It is very difficult to do that in Africa.

    “Point to point will be challenging on the continent [because] 60% of market segments in Africa have less than 50 passengers per day.”

    Fastjet began operating as a low-cost carrier in November 2012, based in Tanzania and also serving South Africa and Zambia.

    Co-founder Haji-Ioannou has plans to turn Fastjet into a pan-African carrier

    But Gebremariam said: “There are other constraints. One is traffic rights between countries.

    “The low-cost model could be perfect within a country’s borders, within Nigeria or South Africa for example. But the issue of cross-border traffic rights is a big bottleneck.”

    He added: “The low-cost model should transform costs. But in Africa low-cost and full-service carriers pay the same not just for fuel but for [using] the airport. It is very difficult.”

    Gebremariam was also critical of European governments, especially the UK’s.

    He said: “We see aviation’s centre of gravity moving from Europe to the Gulf and European governments and politicians are helping the [Gulf carriers] by making it very difficult for airlines to operate in Europe.

    “Tax is one factor. Airport congestion is another. Ethiopian Airlines wants to fly to Heathrow twice a day but we can’t even go daily. We operate six flights a week.

    “A third runway has been discussed for years. Dubai just got on and built six runways.”

  • Orji congratulates Eagles on Ethiopian victory

    Orji congratulates Eagles on Ethiopian victory

    Abia state governor,Chief Theodore Orji has congratulated the Super Eagles for winning their world cup qualifiers, first leg against Ethiopia in Adis ababa, last sunday.

    In a statement by his chief press secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, Orji described the 2-1 win as highly spectacular and a good gift to the people of the country.

    Governor Orji said that he was optimistic that that they were going to win in spite of the fact that the Ethiopians scored first.

    He urged the team not to be carried away by this victory; instead, that they should start preparing for the second leg which comes up on the 16th Nov, 2013, in Calabar and expressed hope that they will pick the World Cup ticket.

    The governor reminded the eagles that underrating their opponents may not be the best option for them at this point in their quest to pick the ticket for the world cup that will be held in Brazil, hence early build up remains paramount.

    He made it clear that the world cup ticket is within their reach and they should grab it, adding that they should not be distracted with any issue that does not have anything to do with their aim of being at the World cup.

    Governor Orji thanked President Jonathan for visiting the players before the match, noting that the gesture gingered the boys to victory.