Ethiopian Airlines has just celebrated the 50th anniversary of its service to the United Kingdom. The airline has come a long way since its first flight to London Heathrow in April 1973.
The national airline’s first flight to the UK was on an aircraft called the Boeing 720B. The flight departed Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and arrived at London Heathrow on April 8, 1971 via Cairo, Rome and Frankfurt, whereas today it serves daily flights in the A350 + four weekly flights in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Since then, Ethiopian Airlines has become a major player in the aviation industry, with a strong presence in the UK. The airline operates daily flights between London Heathrow and Addis Ababa, with connections to destinations in Africa, Asia and America.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its service to the UK, the African airline hosted an event, with speeches from the company’s top executives, as well as representatives from the UK government and the Ethiopian community in the UK. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the airline’s longstanding relationship with the country of Great Britain and to look forward to future opportunities for growth and expansion.
In his speech, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said: “We are proud to celebrate this milestone in our history. Over the past 50 years, EA has played a vital role in connecting England to Africa and the rest of the world. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible service and look forward to continuing to develop our presence in Great Britain.”
Founded in 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has become one of Africa’s leading airlines, renowned for its safety, reliability and excellent customer service. The company has a modern fleet of over 120 aircraft, serving more than 120 destinations worldwide.