Ethiopian Airlines is on track to carry 30% more passengers this fiscal year, which ends in June, than it did last year, Mesfin Tasew Bekele, Ethiopian Airlines chief executive, told the media.
However, the airline faces a spectrum of challenges stemming from delayed aircraft deliveries and operational disruptions due to engine shortages triggered by disruptions in the supply chain, the CEO revealed.
According to Mesfin Tasew Bekele, the impact of delayed deliveries primarily affects narrow-body passenger airplanes, and the grounding of some airplanes exacerbates the situation, especially wide-body airplanes used for long-haul flights.
Despite the obstacles, Ethiopian Airlines remains confident in Boeing's ability to address safety concerns and current problems, he said.
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 146 Boeing, Airbus and De Havilland aircraft, which is slightly below the optimal threshold of 150 aircraft due to delivery delays, the chief executive said.
As part of its strategy to double its fleet and route network by 2035, the airline has ordered 70 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, with additional options for 54 more, he disclosed.
The carrier has previously ordered 84 aircraft to be delivered until 2030 from Airbus and Boeing companies to expand its fleet.
By Vision 2035, Ethiopian Airlines has set a goal of expanding the number of destinations to 207, which will see it become one of the 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world.
Ethiopian Airlines is the leading airline in Africa in terms of the number of passengers carried, the destinations served, the size of its fleet and its revenues.