TAURAI MHAKA AND MICHAEL MASRIE
Eighty years ago, a small aircraft carrying mail, cargo and a handful of passengers departed Addis Ababa for Cairo, stopping in Asmara and Khartoum. At the controls were Swedish Captain Gustaf Berggren and Ethiopian co-pilot Asamu Sayifu.
It was a modest flight, but one with far-reaching consequences. In an era when aviation was dominated by foreign powers, Ethiopia launched a carrier of its own. What began as a single route would eventually grow into one of Africa’s most successful and influential institutions.
The story of Ethiopian Airlines is often told through aircraft, passenger numbers and destinations. Yet its real significance lies elsewhere. At a time when many African national carriers have struggled with political interference, financial instability and shifting government priorities, Ethiopian Airlines built something more durable: an institution capable of surviving crises, adapting to change and competing on a global stage.
Former pilot Captain Getachew Mengiste described the airline’s formative years as “a proud moment for Ethiopia”, recalling how it quickly earned a reputation for competence as much as connectivity. That distinction would prove crucial. While many post-independence carriers became symbols of national pride, Ethiopian Airlines focused on building systems, skills and technical capacity.
Over the decades, the airline expanded steadily beyond the Horn of Africa, linking East Africa with Europe and later the wider world. It invested not only in aircraft but also in engineering, maintenance and training. These investments created capabilities that would outlast political cycles and economic fluctuations.
The challenges facing African aviation were never small. Airlines across the continent have had to contend with high operating costs, volatile currencies, limited domestic markets and expensive access to finance. Aircraft are often purchased in foreign currencies while revenues are earned locally. Fuel prices fluctuate, regulations vary and infrastructure gaps remain significant.
Ethiopian Airlines faced many of the same obstacles, along with periods of domestic upheaval and economic strain. Yet it maintained a long-term outlook. Former employee Aida Tesfaye captured that resilience succinctly when she reflected: “It was tough, but we were determined to keep flying.”
The airline’s modern transformation accelerated under leaders such as Girma Wake and later Tewolde GebreMariam, who prioritised fleet renewal, network growth and operational efficiency. Rather than pursuing prestige projects, management focused on strengthening the foundations of the business.
That approach helped turn Addis Ababa into one of Africa’s most important transport hubs. For travellers moving between African capitals, the Ethiopian capital increasingly became the continent’s most efficient gateway.
The airline’s resilience was tested again during the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most disruptive periods in aviation history. As passenger demand collapsed globally, Ethiopian Airlines pivoted rapidly towards cargo operations, transporting medical supplies and vaccines across Africa.
Fitsum Abadi, who led Ethiopian Cargo during the period, said the airline was prepared “on the ground with state-of-the-art facilities and on the air with brand new aircrafts”. The crisis reinforced the airline’s role not merely as a transport provider but as a critical piece of continental infrastructure.
Today, Ethiopian Airlines serves more than 140 destinations, operates one of the largest fleets on the continent and employs more than 15,000 people. Yet its ambitions continue to grow. Under Vision 2040, the airline aims to expand its network significantly, increase passenger traffic and deepen its role in connecting Africa with global markets.
The centrepiece of that vision is the planned Bishoftu International Airport, a vast development designed to relieve pressure on Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport and accommodate future growth. The project reflects Ethiopia’s belief that aviation will remain central to trade, tourism and economic integration in the decades ahead.
Chief executive Mesfin Tasew has framed the expansion in continental terms, arguing that the project is ultimately about preparing for Africa’s future growth. The planned hub is expected to position Ethiopia as an even more important link between Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Yet perhaps the most important lesson from Ethiopian Airlines is not about airports or aircraft. It is about institution-building.
What sets the airline apart is the depth of capacity it has developed over time. Beyond transporting passengers, it operates training academies, maintenance facilities, cargo services, catering businesses and hospitality ventures. Much of that capacity has been built locally, creating skills and expertise that serve not only Ethiopia but the wider continent.
