Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest Airline Group, has announced that it has registered record success in the just ended 2017/18 fiscal year.
In line with its 15 year strategic roadmap, Vision 2025, the airline registered historical success in financial, commercial, operational and customer service areas.
During the 2017/18 fiscal year, Ethiopian introduced additional 14 new aircraft, more than one aircraft per month. The airline opened eight new international destinations, which include Geneva(Switzerland), Chicago (USA), Bahrain, Kaduna (Nigeria), Buenos Aires(Argentina), Kisangani and Mbuji-Mayi (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Nosy-Be (Madagascar);
The number of passengers carried grew by 21 per cent, topping the 10 million mark for the first time in the airline’s history and reaching 10.6 million passengers.
Freight carried grew by 18 per cent from previous fiscal year to attain 400,339 tons.
Operating revenue grew by 43 per cent from previous fiscal year to culminate at 89.1 billion Ethiopian birr (ETB) and net profit stood at 6.8 billion ETB.
During the fiscal year, the airline was given for the first time in its history a 4-Star rating by SKYTRAX, the leading customer service rating organisation in the airline industry, putting it on par with other global airlines. SKYRAX also recognized Ethiopian as Best Airline in Africa; Best Business Class in Africa and Best Economy Class in Africa.
Ethiopian reached and passed the 100th aircraft in service milestone during the year, becoming the first African airline in history to do so.
Recapping the exceptional 2017/18 fiscal year performance, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam said, “It was an exceptional year for Ethiopian with record performance in financial, operational, commercial and customer service areas. This historical performance is, due first and foremost, to the commitment, hard work and competence of my 16,000 colleagues with each one of them at all echelons of the company playing a critical role in this success.
“ I wish to thank them for their dedication, hard work and contribution in enabling our national carrier to fly high in the sky and defend the colors of our country and our continent. They are the backbone of the airline and the architects of its success. This performance is all the more exceptional given the very tough operating and competitive environment in Africa, where jet fuel price, our main cost driver, has soared during the year and is on average 30 per cent more expensive in Africa, our home market, than in the rest of the world, putting the continent’s carriers at a severe competitive disadvantage.
GebreMariam also said that it was a remarkable result, achieved in the backdrop of aggressive foreign carriers’ penetration into the African market with the African airline industry collectively forecasted to lose money.
“The historical performance attests the soundness of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025. During the next 2018/19 fiscal year, we aim to further grow our network, introduce record number of modern fleet and greatly enhance the on-ground customer service at our main hub with the opening at the end of 2018 of the newly expanded and significantly upgraded airport terminals in Addis Ababa,” he added.
