Best Practices

Newsletter 12

Make Ethiopia a Leading Airport Service Provider

Ethiopian is proud to fly the flag as Africa's world class Airline. For nearly 60 years, Ethiopian Air Lines /EAL/ has been connecting the world to Africa more than any other Airline.

            Indeed flight is unthinkable without proper air transport services such as airports equipped with modern security and navigation facilities. 

            In its effort to upgrade airports across the country so as to  meet international standards, the government has deployed efforts to boost air traffic administration, airport facilities and market-oriented services.

Entrusted with such a challenging task was the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority established in 1944. 

            The aviation history in Ethiopia dates back to 1921 with the visit of Government officials to Yemen. Soon after,  the  idea  that heralded the dawn of aviation in Ethiopia started to take shape. In 1928 a Frenchman, Andre Maillet piloted potez-5 enroute from Djibouti and arrived at Gefersa, a place at the outskirts of Addis Ababa. It is at Gefersa, then, the genesis for airstrip development in Ethiopia begins. 

            It was only six years after the first attempt made by the Right Brothers to fly in the air and not much later than a light aircraft was made by the Right Brothers to fly in the air and not much later than man was able to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an air plane that the aviation industry and air strips particularly were introduced.

            In 1930 air strips were developed in Dire Dawa, Debremarkos, and Gondar so that small airplanes that are used for postal service and security purposes could land and take off. The history of aviation industry shows that it is with the establishment of the first pilot training center in Jijiga modern hanger was introduced. From 1929-1939 new airstrips were founded in many major towns of the country such as Gore, Yirgalem, Bahirdar, and Arbaminch. 

            The Imperial regime in order to upgrade respective air strips which  weren't equipped with skilled manpower and technical capability established the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Organization in mid 40s /ECAO/. The Founding of the government agency, ECAO was a significant step as the first modern airport was constructed in Addis Ababa around the vicinity of Lideta. However, Lideta Airport proved to be inadequate for modern jet aircraft. Such was the time when the Bole and Dire Dawa airports which were built with a 50 million birr loan secured from US began to give service to modern fleets. 

            These are the first modern and full-fledged airports. Despite the dynamic growth of airstrips, the distribution was limited to central parts of the nation. Moreover, the obsolete nature of instruments and failure of provision of up to the standard air traffic services became a hindrance during the military regime. 

            The fact that there is now an increasing demand for airport service calls for great and speedy change in the sector. Cognizant of this fact and the tremendous changes in the aviation industry, the Civil Aviation Authority /GCAA/ was restructured in July 1995 to meet international standards.   

            When we see the technological advancement, which has been made in the field of aviation in the 20^th century, which has villagized the world, the authority was engaged in developing and expanding airports progressively. Parallel to this modernization of air navigation, facilities have been planted at airports and in the flight navigation.

            With the unparalleled increase in both local and international air traffic, the existing facilities could no longer satisfy the increased volumes of traffic and as the result the government of Ethiopia has embarked upon an air transport improvement programme and commissioned an air ports master plan. And the expansion of the Bole International Air Port is part and parcel of this scheme. 

            The Bole International Airport is considered to be Ethiopia's main international and domestic airport and plays an important role for the country and the neighboring countries, particularly as a hub for air traffic. Many people agree that the new airport is among few airports in Africa with serene atmosphere.

            An integrated air conditioning system with automatic or manual control mode regulates the temperature inside the terminal. All networks are controlled with a computer system.  The recent inauguration of this airport is a manifestation of transformation of the aviation industry in Ethiopia. 

            The government has stepped up its reform programmes to construct runways and install every facility to the convenience of domestic and international flights. In 2003 the Civil Aviation Authority was restructured. And administrating aerodromes and further coordinating and developing non-aero notice services in their aerodrome have become the responsibility of the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE). On the other hand, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) was established to promote and maintain an efficient and economic civil air transport and general aviation system.  

            Though the Ethiopian aviation is famous in Africa, its airports have not achieved the desiered level of modernization against the stiff competition they will face in the 21st century. To prevail in the international industry, the government in the past few years has upgraded almost all airports in the country to accommodate even night flights. This has enabled Ethiopia to cope up with the dynamism evident in the aviation sector and handle the newly built cargo and passenger air crafts. 

            The fact that Ethiopia is believed to be the origin of mankind and that it is a nation with long years of history and mosaic culture added to its stature as a tourist attraction. Therefore, to fully exploit this opportunity, airports along the tourist destinations were constructed in Arbaminch, Lalibela, Bahirdar, Gonder, Mekele and Aksum with a multibillion birr investment equipping them with improved runways and accessible roads. Further more, these new airports that are used as alternatives to the Bole International Airport are furnished with communication and navigation facilities. The government is currently undertaking construction of modern airports in Gambela and Jijiga. When the construction is wrapped up with in three years this brings the number of airports administrated by Ethiopian Airport Authority to 16. 

            EAA is established with a vision of making Ethiopia a leading airport services provider in Africa. Indeed the expansion of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with a cost of 1.35 billion birr testifies to the determination of the government to carry on with the development of the aviation industry and airports in particular.

            The Government believes standardization of airports and aviation industry has a significant contribution for enhancing the country's development.

            Modernization of airports, which is part and parcel of infrastructural development will enable the airports, which are gateways to the world to be competitive with other international airports while enhancing tourism and variety of investments.