The Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, has resigned. The 79-year-old veteran of the African airline industry, who joined the company in 1965 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2004-2011, resigned amidst controversy surrounding the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air. The reason for his resignation remains unknown, however, Lieutenant General Yilma Merdassa was immediately appointed the head of the country’s air force. Commander of Ethiopia’s air force, Yilma was said to have served on the company’s board of directors “for the last two and half years,” before assuming his new role on June 8. Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation have both labelled the launch of the Nigeria Air as a fraud.

Source: Ethiopian News June 13, 2023 18:56 UTC