Ethiopian Airlines, the leading, fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa, operated an all-women functioned flight on November on the Addis Ababa–Bangkok route.
This historic flight was aimed at crystalizing Ethiopian corporate conviction of “Women Empowesrment for a Sustainable Growth,” and it was the first of its kind in the airlines’ 70 years of service.
This historical flight was operated by an all female crew led by female flight deck crewmembers and senior female executives onboard that flight. On ground, flight preparations were also conducted by females only, such as a cabin operations, airport operations, flight dispatcher, load controller, ramp operations, onboard logistics, aviation safety and security, ticket offices, catering, air traffic controllers as well as Global Call Center.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebre Mariam remarked: “It is a great honor for us to have competent women aviation professionals at Ethiopian Airlines in every aspect of the aviation field, which the airlines as gender responsive organization strives to pursue its underlying stance of being an equal opportunity employer. We are very proud of their achievement and contributions and it is our sincere belief that this will continue with an enhanced magnitude and passion to sustain Ethiopian Airlines on its first growth trajectory.”
“Above all, this is an ample opportunity to inspire young African female students to believe in their dreams and embark to fill the skill gap for avian professionals. Women are the continent’s greatest untapped resources, and hereby fully dedicated to ensure the increase number of women in decision making positions on top of key operational areas by consistently grooming and mentoring successor female employees for top managerial, technical and operational positions. We are happy that the world watched our all-female operate long haul flight to and from Bangkok,” he added.
The Ethiopian Airlines has also created a more conductive situation for new mothers by launching a nursing room equipped with modern amenities, comfortable reclining chairs, and refrigerators for the storage of breast milk. The fact that female employees comprise 30 percent of the total Ethiopian employee population signifies Ethiopian Airlines’ core value of equal opportunity employer.
Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing airline in Africa. In its close to seven decades of operations, it has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.
It commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 90 international destination across the five continents. Ethiopian Airlines fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet of five years. In fact, it is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airliner; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight catering services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. It is a multiaward winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years. — SG
