Ethiopian Airlines Wins Bombardier’s Airline Reliability Performance Award –

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – (Press Release) – Ethiopian Airlines, for a second time in a row, has won “The 2011 Annual Airline Reliability Performance Award” from the Bombardier Aerospace on April 30, 2012. Ethiopian achieved the highest overall dispatch reliability and placed first overall in the Q-400 product category for the Middle East and Africa region.

Ato Mesfin Tassew, Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines received the award at the annual Airline Reliability Performance Awards Gala Dinner held at the Disney Atlantic Dance Hall in Orlando, Florida, USA on April 30, 2012.

With the introduction of the Q-400 aircraft, Ethiopian not only has enhanced the comfort and safety of its customers but also effectively addressed the need for additional capacity spurred by the country’s double digit economic growth. Enhancing further its domestic and regional services, Ethiopian Airlines also connects regional states with neighboring countries.

Ethiopian Airlines owns eight Bombardier Q-400s which provide services on its domestic and regional routes. The airline recently ordered five more Q-400s, upgraded with seven business class seats, bigger baggage compartments and two lavatories.

Bombardier’s Airline Reliability Performance Awards are presented each year to operators of CRJ services and Q-400 series aircraft in recognition of outstanding dispatch reliability. Each winner must succeed in delivering an average dispatch reliability rate of 99 percent or better on revenue passenger flight in 2011 and the highest dispatch reliability performance in their respective product class and region. 

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines, one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa, made its maiden international flight to Cairo in 1946. With the latest addition of new services to Seychelles, Ethiopian provides dependable services to 65 international destinations spanning four continents.

Ethiopian is proud to be a Star Alliance Member. The Star Alliance network is the leading global airline network offering customers convenient worldwide reach and a smoother travel experience. The Star Alliance network offers more than 20,500 daily flights to 1,293 airports in 190 countries.

Ethiopian is a multi-award winner for its commitment and contributions towards the development and growth of the African aviation industry and in recognition of its distinguished long-haul operations enhanced by the introduction of new routes and products. Recently, Ethiopian won Gold in the African Airline of the Year 2011/2012 Awards organized by the African Aviation News Portal. Ethiopian also received the 2011 AFRAA award for being consistently profitable over the years and has won the “AFRICAN CARGO AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2011 Award” for its excellence in air cargo. Ethiopian also won the NEPAD Transport Infrastructure Excellence Awards 2009 and “the Airline of the Year 2009 Award” from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

With its acquisition of and firm orders for several new modern fleet, the airline is well positioned to pursue aggressively the implementation of its 2025 strategic plan to become the leading aviation group in Africa.