Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Ethiopian Airlines, ET-AVD, Airbus A350-941, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87491748Financial Strength and Network ScaleEthiopian Airlines remains Africa’s largest and most financially resilient carrier. Unlike regional peers such as Kenya Airways and South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines has maintained state ownership while preserving managerial autonomy. Photo: BoeingHistorical Evolution and Strategic DisciplineFounded in 1945 with technical assistance from Trans World Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines has remained majority Ethiopian-owned. During the liberalisation and state transitions of the 1990s, when many African carriers collapsed, Ethiopian Airlines maintained operational discipline and financial stability. The Australia expansion by 2028 completes a continental circuit decades in development and reinforces Ethiopian Airlines as a global aviation power.

Source: Ethiopian News February 16, 2026 07:32 UTC