Ethiopian Airlines Group is building five more domestic airports with the view to expanding domestic destinations, Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew said.
Mesfin Tasew, indicated that the airline is working to expand domestic and international destinations, disclosing that the airline has 136 international and 22 domestic destinations.
With the increasing number of its planes, the airline is expanding its domestic destinations, and possibly increase frequency to busy airports.
The Group Chief Executive Officer said the airports would be built at Mizan Tepi Aman, Negele Borena, Yabelo, Gore Mettu and Debre Markos, adding that four of the airports will be completed within a year.
According to reports, expansion of destinations is implemented in accordance with needs of domestic customers, Mesfin said, additional airports would be built based on study.
On the other hand, he pointed out that Aksum and Kebridehar airports are being renovated, disclosing that both will be open soon. The airline will continue expanding domestic routes, according to Mesfin.
Ethiopian Airlines has set a vision to increase its annual revenue to 25 billion US dollars by 2035 and to transport 67 million passengers in a year.
There are already 19 airports in Ethiopia with scheduled flights and according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air transport has created 1.1 million jobs in Ethiopia. The sector’s gross value added contribution to GDP is $4.15 billion and 5.7 per cent of the country’s GDP is supported by air transport and foreign tourists arriving by air.
