- Ethiopian Airlines plans to get six more airplanes to offer advanced domestic flight services, chief executive stated yesterday evening.
Ethiopian Airlines, which has invited bids for supply of planes, has taken close to two weeks to evaluate the airplanes from six suppliers who had tendered to supply the proposed planes.
"Our aim is to upgrade our 16 domestic routes throughout the country by adding new aircraft with a capacity between 70 to 80 seats," Mr Girma Wake stated, further saying planes would allow passengers to fly in comfort including generating revenue for airlines.
Ethiopia plans to increase the number of domestic aircrafts to 13 in the next five years. It has close to 16 domestic routes, and has started flying jet planes to some of these destinations with potential tourist attractions.
Airline is also in process of acquiring ten Boeing 787 jetliners to be delivered in 2009. The airline currently owns 32 aircraft and serves 50 international destinations.
According to Mr Girma, airline used to suffer major losses, but said since it started flying jet planes for local routes, the airlines has paid off its debt and started enjoying profit.
The airline has embarked on a period of sustained growth and fleet renewal, with plans to purchase 12 new aircrafts over the next four years. Six next generation B737-700 and six 767-300 ERs were scheduled to replace the existing two B737-200s and two B767-200.
Ethiopian's domestic route network spans the country, bringing provincial and administrative cities within easy reach of the capital and the regional commercial centres. In addition, there is a daily historic route service, for the tourists to the country's world famous ancient historic sites of Axum, Bahir Dar, Gondar, and Lalibela, which features obelisks and churches.
Ethiopian Airlines was founded on 30 December 1945. The first international scheduled service was inaugurated between Addis Ababa and Cairo on 8 April 1946.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español