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Ethiopian Airlines and nation's airports merge into a single unit

ETHIOPIAN Airlines Group has merged with Ethiopian Airports Enterprise(EAE) to form the Aviation Holding Group, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The airline is also Africa's largest air cargo operator with a freighter fleet of six Boeing 777Fs and two Boeing 757-200Fs.

The consolidation, which follows regulation approved by Ethiopia's Council of Ministers on July 14 this year, sees the formation of a new holding group comprising EAE, Passenger Airline, Cargo Airline & Logistics Company, Ethiopian Aviation Academy, Ethiopian Inflight Catering Services, Ethiopian MRO Services and Ethiopian Hotel & Tourism Services.

"The holding company came on the scene with Ethiopian Airlines' 15-year strategic plan dubbed Vision 2025," said Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's fastest growing carrier.

"The companies under Ethiopian Airlines have been preparing themselves to stand autonomously for the last seven years since the launch of the plan," said the comunique.

"The regulation cites the merger will help the airline cope with the global aviation competitive market. The enterprise has been running 23 airports: four are international, and some are under construction," it said.

The airline had a target of 725,000 tonnes of cargo handled by 2025, with the carrier achieving 270,000 tonnes in financial year 2015-16.

Ethiopian Airlines group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said the company opened its Cargo Terminal II in Addis Ababa that covers 150,000 square metres, with perishable cool chain storage facilities. It is also fully automated with elevated transport vehicles, and has an apron area for five additional large freighter aircraft.

In the same month the airline also announced a deal to purchase two B777 freighters as it continues to expand rapidly its cargo operations, he said.