Ethiopian Wins Bombardiers Airline Reliability Performance Award for Third Year in a Row - 06 June, 2013

The award was given to Ethiopian for achieving an average dispatch reliability rate of 99 per cent or better on revenue passenger flights in 2012 and stood first in the overall Q-400 product category for the Middle East and Africa region.

“We are pleased to receive the award for the third year in a row. This is a testament of our dedication for excellent customer service which is in continuous improvement every day,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian.

Ethiopian currently operates 13 Q-400 Next Gen aircraft, which has the quietest engine in its category. The Q-400 is an ideal aircraft for domestic and regional flights with a speed closer to narrow body jet airplanes and with reduced fuel consumption and emission. Ethiopian Q-400s are used for its extensive regional and domestic network serving the ever increasing tourism and business travel needs of its customers.

On top of its 17 domestic destinations, the airline operates the Q-400 on regional routes such as Djibouti, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salam, Zanzibar, Entebbe, Kigali, Juba, Khartoum and Berbera.

Continuing its dedication to enhance its services, Ethiopian became the only airline in the world in September 2012 to receive re-configured Bombardier Q-400 aircraft. The new aircraft contains numerous innovations that greatly enhance passenger comfort. Whereas the previous Q-400s were all economy, the new aircraft has 7 business class and 60 economy class seats. The new configuration also has a second lavatory which gives exclusive access to business class passengers, reclining seats in economy class cabin and a hot galley enabling the service of hot meals on regional flights. The new airplanes also have more luggage capacity and extra overhead bin space and leg room.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Africa, made its maiden international flight to Cairo in 1946 and now the Airline provides dependable services to 72 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 21,555 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 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 "Airline Reliability Performance Award" from the Bombardier Aerospace; "African Airline of the Year Award" from Air Transport Quarterly Magazine; "Transformation Award 2012" from Planet Africa Network; "International Diamond Prize for Excellence in Quality" from the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR). Also Captain Desta Zeru, Vice-President of Flight Operations, won "Africa Legend of Travel" award from African Travel Quarterly (ATQ) magazine; and Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, won "African CEO of the year" from the African CEO Forum as well as "African Business Leader of the Year" award from the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA).

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.