Ethiopian Turns 60: a Success Story of Six Decades of Service As Dedication Meets Passion

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's aviation pioneer, employing more than 4,700 people and carrying more than 1.5 million passengers a year to 45 destinations, was founded 60 years ago.

Ethiopian Airlines was set up in 1946 as a joint venture between the Ethiopian Government and the non liquidated Trans world Airlines (TWDA) of the United states. Five US Government surplus C-47 aircraft were purchased for the venture.

Then on April 8, 1946, Ethiopian made its maiden international flight to Cairo. The Emperor and large crowd of residents of Addis Ababa were at the airport on this historic occasion to see the flight takeoff for Cairo at 8 a.m.

Following the successful inaugural flight to Cairo, a regular weekly service was established. Weekly services to Djibouti and Aden followed, as well as a domestic service to Jimma. Demands for additional service were so great that towards the end of 1946, four more C-47 Sky trains were purchased. Since these aircraft were ex-US military, they had few comfort; all had folding bench-type canvas seats along the side, with the central aisle kept clear so that cargo could be lashed to the floor.

In the late 1940s, three more skyscrapers were purchased for the international routes and Ethiopian extended its route network to Nairobi, Port Sudan, Bombay and chartered flights to Jeddah.

Slowly the web of domestic routes grew as more airstrips, which were usually covered with grass also grew. These were fitted out in a 'luxury' layout with 21 forward facing seats were the first to wear the colorful Ethiopian Airlines livery.

In 1950 two Convair 240 aircraft were purchased, followed later by a third, for use on foreign routes. These higher-performance aircraft had fully furnished interiors and seats for 36 passengers. Their pressurized cabins allowed the aircraft to fly higher, in smoother air. By the end of 1952 the faithful Sky trains were still the mainstay of the domestic routes, linking 21 towns and cities to the capital, and carrying both passengers and cargo.

In 1953, three quarters of the airline's staff were now Ethiopian but expatriates still held most key posts. The Ethiopian government negotiated an agreement with TWA with the ultimate aim of operating entirely with Ethiopian personnel.

Ethiopian Airlines started long haul flights to Frankfurt in 1957. To support the long haul routes of Addis Ababa-Cairo-Athens-Frankfurt, three Douglas DC-6B Cloud masters, with capacity of 71 passengers, were delivered in 1958.

The first Ethiopian commercial aircraft commander, Alemayhehu Abebe, made his solo flight as captain on a DC-3/C-47 aircraft.

in 1960 the Airline prepared to enter the jet age and decided that the Boeing 720B best met its requirements. However, the existing airfield serving Addis Ababa- Lidetta, which had been build in 1936 - was not suitable for jet operation. This required a longer runway, and a decision was made to construct an entirely new airport and headquarters at Bole.

The year 1960, the great year of African independence, the route network continued to expand pioneering the first east-west flights across Africa to Monrovia with intermediate stops at Khartoum and Accra. The flight marked a milestone not only in the history of Ethiopian but also of African aviation. The airline steadily expanded its service throughout the continent and established the largest network In 1961, a new east-west service was inaugurated, linking Addis Ababa with Monrovia in Liberia, via link between east and West Africa operated by any airline.

By December 1962 the new runway and control tower at Bole International Airport were operational and two Boeing 72OBs arrived on their delivery flights. Ethiopian was the first airline in Africa to order the Boeing 720B.

On 15th January 1963, the airline inaugurated its first jet service, from Bole to Nairobi. The following day the second Boeing inaugurated a new route to Madrid, via Asmara and Athens.

Meanwhile the elderly Sky trains and their related civilian DC-3s continued to fly the domestic and cargo services and six further DC-3s were bought during the next decade. Despite their age, these aircraft were ideally suited to Ethiopia's rugged terrain and high altitude.

Subsequently on January 26, 1964, Ethiopian completed the first ever jet engine overhaul in Africa.

In 1965, the company changed its legal status from a corporation to a share company. At the same time the title was changed from Ethiopian Air Lines to Ethiopian Airlines.

1971 was the year in the history of the airline when Colonel Semeret Medhane was appointed general manager, the first ever Ethiopian to hold the position Between 1977 and 1982, A Boeing 120B flight simulator was acquired, two Boeing 727s were purchased for medium-range routes to replace the oldest Boeing 720s, and the airline bought a third Boeing 727 and two de Havilland Canada DHC- Buffalo short-field transports for use on domestic services.

Ethiopian Turns 60: a Success Story of Six Decades of Service As Dedication Meets Passion

In February 1999, the ShebaMiles frequent flyer programme was launched. Construction started on a new, ultra-modem terminal building at Bole international Airport to upgrade passenger services and cater for an anticipated increase in traffic. In November of the same year Scandinavia was brought to the route network for the first time with a new service to Copenhagen, Denmark, along with a new route to Maputo, Mozambique.

In year 2002 the airline embarked on a period of sustained growth and fleet modernization with plans to purchase, over the next four years, 12 new Aircraft six next-generation ration B737-700s and six B767-300ERs were scheduled to replace the existing two B737-200s and two B767 . In October the same year, night operations out of Addis Ababa were introduced, to supplement the daytime flights. The new 3,800 meter runway and control tower at Bole International Airport became operational in 2003, along with the spacious new airport terminal with its 21st -century facilities. Renovation of the older terminal begun to serve domestic flights.

As the year below to close, the first two of the new Boeing 767-300 and 737-700 Aircraft arrive at Bole international Airport.

On April 28, 2005 Ethiopian completed an agreement for the purchase of five Boeing 787 Dream liner jets and purchase rights for five additional 787s, which was later converted to firm order. With the purchase order for ten B787 Dream liners, Ethiopian became part of the launch team of the revolutionary airplane.

In March 2006, Ethiopian announced the beginning of e-ticketing service to Addis Ababa Nairobi, Addis Ababa - Johannesburg and Addis Ababa - Frankfurt routes.

The introduction of e-ticketing, opening of new destinations, and the arrival of the B787 in 2008 will be the beginning of an era of unprecedented passenger comfort and technical performance.

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