Ethiopian Airlines CEO affirms support for Nigeria Air’s decision
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew, has assured the public that the airline remains open to any decision made by the Federal Government regarding the Nigeria Air project. Tasew emphasized that Ethiopian Airlines, initially hesitant to participate in the initiative, eventually submitted a bid following an official invitation from the Nigerian government.
In a recent dialogue with journalists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tasew confirmed a meeting between Nigerian authorities and Ethiopian Airlines management in Abuja to discuss the project. He reiterated the airline’s willingness to respect the Nigerian government’s choice, emphasizing that Ethiopian Airlines would fully support the establishment of the national carrier if the project were to continue. Conversely, if the Nigerian government decides to suspend the project, the airline is prepared to comply with the decision.
Addressing concerns surrounding the national carrier project, Tasew clarified, “In the first place, the national carrier project was not our initiative; it was the initiative of the Nigerian government. Now, if the government wants us to cancel the project, it is fine with us. We have no problem.”
Ethiopian Airlines received a formal request from the Nigerian government in May 2022, urging the airline to participate in the bid for the national carrier. Despite initial reservations, the airline recognized the importance of supporting the Nigerian government, considering its significant operations within the country.
“In May 2022, when I took over my current responsibility, a request came from the Nigerian government asking ET to participate in a bid and help the Nigerian government set up a flag carrier. It came in writing. Initially, we didn’t want to go into that,” Tasew explained.
The CEO also highlighted the challenges faced during the process, including legal disputes that required the airline to defend its position in court. “While we were preparing the shareholder agreement, we heard that some companies in Nigeria, including airlines, were objecting to the establishment of the airline and were defaming the name of the government and Ethiopian Airlines,” he stated.
Ethiopian Airlines expressed its commitment to supporting the national carrier project, even going as far as temporarily painting one of its aircraft with the Nigerian Air logo to facilitate the Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) process. However, Tasew clarified that the decision to suspend the project temporarily was communicated to them by the Nigerian authorities following concerns from the public.
The Head of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Odutayo Oluseyi, was unavailable for immediate comment regarding the timeline for the Federal Government’s review of the project.
As Ethiopian Airlines continues to uphold its dedication to supporting African nations in the aviation sector, the airline remains open to collaborating with the Nigerian government should they decide to revive the Nigeria Air project.
