Ethiopian Airlines’ Head talks about adding China's C919 passenger planes to fleet


Devdiscourse News Desk | Addis Ababa | Updated: 18-04-2019 19:30 IST | Created: 18-04-2019 19:30 IST
Ethiopian Airlines’ Head talks about adding China's C919 passenger planes to fleet
The C919, China's first self-developed trunk jetliner, conducted a successful maiden flight on May 5, 2017, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Image Credit: Wikipedia
  • Country:
  • China
  • Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has said on April 18 that the air carrier is considering adding China's C919 passenger planes to its aircraft fleet.

Speaking to Xinhua, Gebremariam said Ethiopian Airlines has formed a joint committee with Chinese counterparts to follow up the progress of C919 passenger planes.

"Ethiopian Airlines's engineers are working with COMAC engineers to evaluate the suitability of C919 passenger planes. Ethiopian Airlines is currently considering adding the C919 planes to its aircraft fleet when the airplanes are ready for sales," said Gebremariam.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) is China's major commercial aircraft developer. Gebremariam also told Xinhua, Ethiopian Airlines is working with the Chinese government to make Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa a hub for Chinese aviation technology in Africa.

"Ethiopian Airlines is working with the Chinese government to make Addis Ababa an aviation hub between China and Africa. Addis Ababa will not only be a transfer point for air traffic and cargo, but also a hub for the growth of Chinese aviation technology in Africa," he further said, as reported by Xinhua.

Ethiopian Airlines already buys a variety of goods from China including aircraft related machinery and furniture. Ethiopian Airlines currently operates daily passenger flights from Addis Ababa to Guangzhou and Beijing, and thrice-weekly passenger flights to Chengdu, as well as daily passenger and cargo flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The C919, China's first self-developed trunk jetliner, conducted a successful maiden flight on May 5, 2017, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

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