Pictured (left to right): Ethiopian Airlines Group VP Customer Experience Samson Arega; Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew; APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader; Ethiopian Airlines Manager of the GCEO Office Surafel Worku; and Ethiopian Airlines Group VP Strategic Planning & Alliances Daniel Abebe. Photo: Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines received the 2026 APEX Best Airline in Africa Award on the final day of the APEX Board of Directors’ yearly strategic meeting, which was hosted by the carrier at its Bole International Airport (ADD) headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. While the remainder of the APEX Best™ Awards will be…
Author: Nandi Biko
Chinedu Eze The adoption of the June 16, 2026 Lome Declaration by African ministers, has brought African states closer to making air travel affordable on the continent. African ministers adopted the declaration and implementation matrix in Lome, Togolese capital, to accelerate accessible, connected, affordable, and sustainable air transport across the continent. Lomé Declaration is a continental commitment adopted by African leaders and transport ministers in Lomé, which is designed to remove the structural and regulatory barriers currently limiting air connectivity across Africa. Africa has the least air connectivity globally and it is a region that has less intra-state trade among the countries…
Ethiopia is staking $12.5 billion on an airport that could redraw Africa’s aviation map and turn Addis Ababa into a global crossroads. At its heart will rise the Central Beacon, a tower-like structure with a 60-metre interior atrium that its designers say will be the tallest in any airport worldwide. The landmark will anchor Bishoftu International Airport, a vast new Ethiopian Airlines gateway led by DAR and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to handle tens of millions of travellers each year. Italian architecture and design magazine Domus revealed fresh details of the project on July 21,…
Ethiopian Airlines has been named the Best Airline in Africa at the 2026 APEX Passenger Choice Awards, reinforcing its position as the continent’s leading carrier.In a statement issued on Monday, the airline said the recognition was based on independent passenger feedback, highlighting its performance in key service areas including cabin comfort, onboard services, and overall travel experience.The Airline Passenger Experience Association Passenger Choice Awards are regarded as one of credible awards relying on verified traveler ratings collected through global passenger review platforms. The awards assess the airline across multiple categories such as seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment,…
0 LAGOS – African carriers recorded a 7.7 per cent year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in April 2026, even as available cargo capacity fell by 9.4 per cent, according to the latest global air cargo markets data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The figures showed that Africa accounted for 2.1 per cent of global cargo traffic and posted one of the strongest performances among regions. The continent’s cargo load factor rose by 7.8 percentage points to 49.1 per cent. Globally, air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose by 4.0 per cent compared with April 2025,…
Ethiopian Airlines has received Best Airline in Africa 2026 APEX Passenger Choice Awards, a recognition that reflects the confidence and loyalty of passengers who continue to choose the airline across its global network. The award highlights Ethiopian Airlines’ steady focus on delivering a smooth, comfortable, and dependable travel experience, from the moment passengers book their flights to the time they reach their destinations. Consistently strong service, onboard comfort, and operational reliability have all played a role in meeting the changing expectations of today’s travelers. The APEX Passenger Choice Awards are based on independently verified customer feedback, with results shaped entirely…
Video hosted by Fred Mills. This video contains paid promotion for Incogni. THIS probably sounds like a cliché but Bishoftu Airport (BIA) is about to change the world of travel forever. It costs a whopping $12.5 billion dollars and you won’t find it in America, Europe or Asia. Over in East Africa, Ethiopia has begun work on the biggest aviation project in the history of the continent. While facilities like Cairo International and O.R. Tambo are well established hubs, welcoming 20 to 30 million passengers annually, Bishoftu Airport will soar above those figures. Forget 30 million, Ethiopia’s new hub is preparing…
Ministers and Heads of Delegation responsible for Transport, Tourism, Trade and Finance from African Union Member States have adopted the Lomé Ministerial Declaration and Implementation Matrix on Accelerating Accessible, Connected, Affordable and Sustainable Air Transport across Africa, marking a renewed continental commitment to accelerate implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market. African Union The Declaration and the implementation matrix was adopted during the African Air Transport Convention and Expo 2026, organized by the African Civil Aviation Commission and hosted in Lomé by the Government of the Republic of Togo, the SAATM Champion State, under the…
grounded growth The African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) has stalled, leaving airlines to navigate high costs and uneven regulation despite surging demand. By Michael Masrie Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO © Amanuel Sileshi / AFP Published on May 11, 2026 at 06:00 am (GMT +1) Africa’s aviation paradox is stark: demand is rising, but connectivity within the continent remains structurally constrained. Passenger and cargo traffic are growing by double digits across several corridors, yet intra-African routes remain limited, expensive and often indirect. Source link
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for April 2026 global air cargo markets showing that Africa-Asia led growth followed by Asia-Europe, with intra-Asia also holding strong on regional trade. In contrast, Gulf-linked corridors were severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. African airlines saw a 7.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in April. Capacity decreased by -9.4 people year-on-year. Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 10.5 percent year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in April, the strongest rise of all regions. Capacity increased by 5.3 percent year-on-year. “Air cargo demand grew four percent year-on-year…
Addis Ababa, May 7, 2026 —Airbus’s Airline Marketing Director for Africa, Joep Ellers, has described Ethiopian Airlines as Africa’s true aviation success story. Ellers highlighted the group’s long-standing contribution to connectivity and economic development across the continent. Speaking to ENA on the airline’s role in Africa’s aviation sector, Ellers said the airline—operating for more than 80 years, has played a central role in improving air connectivity within Africa and internationally. He noted that Ethiopian Airlines continues to operate modern aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000, reflecting its commitment to fleet modernization and efficiency. Ellers emphasized that the airlines…
Addis Ababa, July 21, 2026 (FMC) — For decades, the world’s most influential aviation gateways have been concentrated outside Africa, with airports in cities such as Dubai, Istanbul, London, Atlanta and Singapore evolving into more than transport facilities. They have become engines of economic growth, centres of global commerce and symbols of national ambition. Now, as Africa enters a new era of economic integration, expanding trade and rising demand for travel, the continent is seeking infrastructure capable of matching its demographic strength and development aspirations. On the outskirts of Bishoftu, Ethiopia is building an aviation project designed to answer that…