Ethiopian Airlines is making slow progress with talks regarding cooperation with South African Airways (SAA), according to the former’s chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam. Speaking during a CAPA Live session today, Gebremariam says that talks with South Africa’s government “have been a challenge so far”. That dominance means South Africa is “very, very competitive… because every mega-carrier in the world is there”, Gebremariam observes. Ethiopian, which has a history of investments in other African carriers, therefore believes that “the only way we can look at opportunities, is if we cooperate with South African Airways”, says Gebremariam. SAA is being restructured as part of a rescue plan that also sets out ambitions to find a strategic equity partner for the carrier.

Source: Ethiopian News February 10, 2021 12:22 UTC