Despite the withdrawal of foreign airlines from Nigeria and cut down of their frequencies, Africa’s most successful airline, Ethiopian Airlines, said it would continue to service the different destinations to which it operates in Nigeria.
Ethiopian Airlines country area manager, Mr. Solomon Begashaw, said the airline has no plan or reason to leave the country, because it consider itself as a Nigerian carrier.
The airline, which currently operates from its hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Kano, is one of the biggest foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
“As a veteran pan-African carrier, it has always been our source of pride to serve our beloved continent, Africa, both in good and bad times,” Begashaw said.
He stated that the carrier’s presence in Nigeria dated back to 1960, few days after her independence, maintaining that Ethiopian Airlines has been an integral part of Nigeria’s historic growth.
Begashaw said, “The management of Ethiopian Airlines wishes to clarify its stance of pursuing its operation to Nigeria and keep Nigerian travelers connected to five continents around the globe.
“As an indigenous pan-African carrier, Ethiopian Airlines will remain with the Nigerian public in good and bad times, like it has always done in the past 56 years. Ethiopian Airlines has been in the high and low of Nigeria; all through the crisis periods of Nigeria and also during the last economic crisis, providing the link between Nigeria and the outside world, thereby showing our African solidarity.”
In the spirit of African brotherhood, Ethiopian Airlines does not wish to be in Nigeria only when the going is good, “but rather make sacrifices along with Nigerians in this trying time, knowing that Nigerians are resilient and resourceful and will soon come out of the temporary recession,” Begashaw added.
To reinforce its support for Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines is offering to hire Nigerian pilots for its ever growing fleet of B777, B787, B737 and Dash 8 Q-400 aircrafts, and also train more Nigerians in its aviation academy, which is the largest in Africa.
Besides, Ethiopian Airlines had always served Nigeria with the best aircraft in its fleet like the A350 Airbus, B787 Dreamliner and the B777 wide body.
Begashaw added that the vision of Ethiopian Airlines is to be the leading aviation group in Africa, noting that the airline is a four star airline that offers five star services.
He disclosed that the success of Ethiopian Airlines is predicated on its dedicated staff and management, working round the clock to meet customers’ expectations.
