Addis Ababa, April 8, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - With increased revenue coming out of the East and central Africa region traffic route, Ethiopian Airlines is now targeting to expand its cargo capacity and business, East African Business Week reported from Kampala on Monday.Three years ago, the airline spelt out a five year strategic expansion plan and just mid way in the execution of the plan, Ethiopian Airlines has grown double its size with annual passenger figures growing from 1.1 million to 2.1 million and annual revenue rising from 350 million USD to 800 million USD.
Officials say the airline has had high demand for flights coming out of the Addis Ababa hub, demand which has been stifled by the capacity shortage and non-availability of seats to major destinations outside Addis Ababa.
"Hence our market share is on the low side and this situation will for sure improve with the arrival of the new 787B aircraft early next year," said Regassa Ermejachew, Ethiopian Airlines area manager-Uganda.
The airline will early next year add the monstrous Boeing 787 Dream liner to their fleet, becoming the first airline in Africa and only the second in the world to order for the Dream liner after Nippon Airways from Japan.
Two years ago, Ethiopian commissioned a state of the art terminal with a 250,000 tons cargo capacity per annum following increased demand for cargo carriers especially for flower exporters in the region.
Ethiopian's recent overall performance in the East African region is an impressive 37% increase in revenue and a 31% increase in traffic uplift. Regassa however declined to disclose the monetary equivalent of the airlines rise.
The airline, one of the oldest in Africa also recently ventured into the lucrative Southern Sudan region but through its Addis hub a route which management say has steadily grown.
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