Ethiopian Airlines Group and a French business delegation are discussing bolstering the existing spirit of cooperation between Ethiopian Airlines and various French companies engaged in the aerospace and aviation sector.
Speaking during the opening, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the airline has excellent business relationships with many French companies engaged in aerospace and aviation.
In the past year alone, Ethiopian conducted transactions with 130 French aerospace companies, excluding airframe and engine deals, for a total of around 150 million USD, he noted.
Ethiopian Airlines currently flies daily to Paris and four times a week to Marseille, and it is looking to increase frequencies to both cities, he stated, adding that the airline sees opportunities and wants support for growth in both passenger and cargo traffic between Ethiopia and France.
The airlines and French companies engaged in the aerospace sector should nurture very good relations between the Ethiopian and French governments to diversify and deepen business cooperation.
He noted that Ethiopian Airlines is a fast-growing airline that is looking to expand its partnership with French companies in the aerospace and aviation sector, he added.
The airline has recently purchased airplanes from Airbus and is interested in collaborating with Airbus’ Safran on engine parts.
The airline is building a new airport about 40 from the capital Addis Ababa and wants to partner with French companies on the project, he pointed out.
According to the CEO, the airline is also developing its repair capabilities for aircraft parts and is seeking partnerships with French manufacturers.
French Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rémi Maréchaux recalled that France and Ethiopia have a long history of working together in aviation, going back to 1929.
“Over two days, a series of meetings and discussions between the Ethiopian Airlines Group and the delegation of French companies will highlight the opportunities offered by your group airport projects and activities for our current and future infrastructures.
We all have in mind the Bisheftu mega project, which will confirm the leading position of Ethiopian Airlines Group and should become the major hub of the region.
We are also aware of the Ethiopian Airlines established excellence and its unquestionable strike force. Business relations between French companies and Ethiopian groups are long-standing and mark a shared spirit of excellence and trust.
It’s important to remember that the history of Civil Aviation and airports in Ethiopia was built with France, beginning in 1929 when the French-made airplane flown by a French pilot landed in Addis from Djibouti.”
The ambassador noted that the delegation included big and reputable French companies with excellent products and services in the sector in Ethiopia and many other countries.
These French companies have a proven track record of success with important airports around the world.
He expressed his hope that the two-day consultation between Ethiopian Airlines and the French business delegation will discuss on bolstering cooperation.
The meeting aims to start new and productive partnerships between French companies and Ethiopian Airlines, especially for the new airport.
Both sides hope to continue their history of successful collaboration.
A similar discussion was held in 2022.
Source: ENA
