Star Alliance member, and one of the largest airlines in the continent of Africa, Ethiopian Airlines has achieved a monumental moment, becoming the first to offer a full strip and paint programme in Africa for two of the airline’s Airbus A350-900. As announced on December 26, the airline has become the first in Africa to offer such a service, which significantly advances the airline’s aim for operational excellence.

The strip-and-paint program, specifically for the Airbus A350-900, will see the advancement of the airline’s MRO capabilities, including technical expertise and commitment to continuous improvement for Africa’s leading airline. The success of this project was coupled with the completion of paint capability on Boeing 787.

Yet Another Milestone

Ethiopian Airlines is celebrating this accomplishment, noting that this cements the airline as a leading MRO service provider across the continent. ET boasts that its MRO facilities can deliver ‘top-notch’ aircraft maintenance facilities, including a state-of-the-art paint hangar. Ethiopian operates these services primarily for its own fleet, but also for third-party customers.

The Ethiopian carrier has noted that, beyond saving costs by offering the strip-and-paint facilities in-house, it also enables the airline to generate additional revenue by offering these services to other airline customers. This enhances the airline’s self-reliance and elevates its capabilities and global appeal for other carriers requiring such MRO services. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew explained:

This project is yet another milestone which reflects Ethiopian’s ongoing commitment to investing in world-class MRO capabilities, strengthening our operational resilience, enhancing our self-reliance, and elevating our global standing. Beyond saving costs, this achievement enables us to generate additional revenue and reinforce our position as a leading MRO service provider in the continent and the region.”

State-Of-The-Art Paint Hangar

Ethiopian Airlines has operated its own dedicated state-of-the-art paint hangar for up to 60 years, which has allowed the airline the ability to service its own aircraft, but also cater to other customers. Presently, ET maintains comprehensive in-house painting and multi-layer coating capabilities for both composite and aluminum airframes.

The ability to manage this across the entire airline fleet allows the airline to efficiently handle aircraft repaints and coating projects simply, and by using advanced methods such as the HVLP (high volume low pressure) system for spraying. This modern paint shop is yet another jewel in the Ethiopian Airlines crown.

The latest announcement that ET was successful in completing its own tip-to-tail strip-and-paint programme for two of the airline’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft helps celebrate the airline’s commitment to continued improvement and cements it as one of the leading MRO facilities on the African continent.

An African Success Story

Ethiopian Airlines continues to be a true African success story by remaining one of the most highly regarded, well-operated airlines across the continent. ET has grown into a global airline powerhouse, offering more than 160 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations to and from its home at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). Airport specifics below:

The airline, which has operated for almost 80 years, has helped bridge the gap between many African nations and the world. Ethiopian Airlines maintains a robust fleet of modern aircraft, which includes the Boeing 737, 777, and 787, alongside the Airbus A350-900 and Airbus A350-1000. Regional operations are offered on board the De Havilland Q400 turboprop aircraft. ET has celebrated numerous accolades, including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa’, a title it has held for eight consecutive years.

Ethiopian has also looked beyond its borders to accelerate aviation across Africa; this is evident through its Pan-African spirit with multi-hub strategies, such as in Lome, Togo. The airline has also invested in the development of new airlines that feed into the airline’s wider international operations, being that of ASKY, Malawi Airlines, Zambia Airlines, and Air Congo.