Eight decades of soaring high: Ethiopian Airlines Marks 80 Years of Service

Addis Ababa, 08 April 2026

Ethiopian Airlines marks 80 years of service today, 08 April 2026. Commemorating the historic milestone, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew officially announced the beginning of the airline’s 80^th year service anniversary celebrations at a press conference held at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel.

Ethiopian Airlines started its operation with five Douglas C-47 aircraft back in April 1946 with a scheduled service to Cairo via Asmara. From operating the Douglas C-47, Convair 240, and DC-6B in its early days, Ethiopian has established itself as a technology leader, pioneering in the continent with ultra-modern aircraft operation.

Commenting on the historic event, the Group CEO remarked, “This is a proud moment for Ethiopian Airlines and the entire African aviation industry. We are honored to reach the 80 years mark serving our continent and the rest of the world. Keeping our Pan-African identity, we have bridged gaps, linked nations, and connected economies for eight decades. Our achievements are built by hard work, commitment, and partnerships.  This is not a milestone just for the management and staff, it is also a remarkable moment for our stakeholders, partners, and our esteemed customers.”

Over its eight decades of operation, Ethiopian has established itself as a technology leader, introducing cutting-edge aircraft to the African continent. Ethiopian is currently the leading airline in Africa in number of aircraft, destinations served, revenue, number of passengers, and other parameters.

The press conference held at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel today is the first official event of the series of events that the airline will hold in the coming days, commemorating the historic milestone.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is a true African success story, transforming a visionary dream into a globally renowned reality for nearly eight decades. Operating flights to more than 160 domestic and international passenger, and cargo destinations across five continents, Ethiopian bridges the gaps between Africa and the world. Emphasizing passenger comfort and environmental sustainability, Ethiopian utilizes ultra-modern aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900, A350-1000 and De Havilland Q400.

Ethiopian, the Star Alliance member airline, champions in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for eight consecutive years, APEX ‘Best Overall in Africa’ award and ‘Leadership in Connecting Africa through Transport’ Award among others. Ethiopian aims to further excel in its success through a strategic plan dubbed ‘Vision 2035’ and become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world. Embracing a Pan-African spirit, Ethiopian is pursuing multi-hub strategy through hubs in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines, in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways, and in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Air Congo.

For more information, visit our website at  www.ethiopianairlines.com  email us at CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com , or call us at (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907.