Ethiopian Airlines & Lufthansa Technik sign technical cooperation agreement……

By Kaleyesus Bekele

Ethiopian Airlines signed an agreement this week with Lufthansa Technik that enables the latter to provide technical support for Ethiopian’s Boeing 787 fleet.

Ethiopian Airlines, the third 787 customer, next to All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines, appointed Lufthansa Technik to provide component support for its modern long-haul fleet.

The Boeing 787 Total Component Support (TCS) contract signed in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian will run for a term of ten years.

Following the delivery of Ethiopian first 787, named “Africa First”, in August, Lufhtansa Technik has taken on the role of providing material support using the existing material pool in Germany. Services include repair and logistics for three Dreamliners already in Ethiopian fleet and the remaining seven on order after they have been delivered.

Lufthansa Technik has already been assisting the Star Alliance member with support in optimization of the MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) organization with a team on site. The Hamburg based company, Lufthansa Technik, already provides component support forEthiopian Q-400 and MD11 aircraft.

“Ethiopian’s new contract with Lufthansa Technik for the 787 is a continuation of existing relationship between the two and will greatly enhance Ethiopian MRO by improving its dispatch reliability, reducing maintenance cost and enhancing its supply chain management effectiveness and increasing the efficiency of this ultra-modern aircraft,” Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO ofEthiopian said .

“We are delighted by the trust that has been placed in us with this second long-term contract for the extensive component support for the Boeing 787,” Dr. Burkhard Andrich, Head of Aircraft Component Services at Lufthansa Technik AG, said. “And we are confident that, with our experience, we will also be able to make a substantial contribution towards the reliable and economic operation of this ultra-modern aircraft of Ethiopian Airlines, one of the most important long-haul aircraft for the years ahead.”

With 32 subsidiaries and affiliated companies and more than 26,000 staff worldwide, the Lufthansa Technik Group is one of the world’s leading independent providers of aircraft-related technical services. Lufthansa Technik’s portfolio covers the entire service spectrum of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, engines and components for passenger aircraft.

Lufthansa Airline was Ethiopian’s mentor during joining the Star Alliance group. 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 21,555 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries.

Ethiopian is also holding talks with Lufthansa Catering to partner in building a new catering facility at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Ethiopian’s new catering facility will be one of the seven subsidiary companies under Ethiopian Aviation Group. ET Catering, ET International, ET Domestic, ET Technik, ET Ground Handling, ET Aviation Academy and ET Cargo will be the seven companies that will be run as different business entity under the Ethiopian Aviation Group.

Source: The Reporter