Latest news with #EthiopianAirlines
Zawya
an hour ago
- Business
- Zawya
Tanzania opens skies to stem tourism losses after EU flights ban
In a bid to restore the confidence of air travellers to Tanzania, the government has extended traffic rights to international airlines to stem a crisis following the recent European Union ban on Tanzania-registered aircraft. Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), in extending freedoms of the air to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways, said the decision was to safeguard tourism, business continuity and international mobility.'The TCAA has granted additional rights, for a period of six months, to KLM, Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways to support and facilitate local and regional connections to major Tanzanian destinations,' director-general Salim Msangi said in a statement. The authority assured travellers that the European Union ban on all planes registered in the country did not apply to aircraft certified outside Tanzania. The assurance came as foreign travellers started to shun air transport in Tanzania, with many cancelling their safaris, a move that Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato) said affected the tourism industry.'This has greatly impacted the industry, as most tourists were refusing to get on planes, even while flying to the national parks, opting for road trips instead,' said Tato chairperson Willy Chambulo. But he was more concerned about cancelled international flights by tourists who had booked safaris to Tanzania and called on the government to speed up the process of clearing the issue with the EU. The ban was an indictment of the TCAA, and Msangi says they are taking the necessary measures to ensure seamless movement and constant connectivity to and from all destinations in Tanzania. He said the EU decision does not affect airlines that are registered outside Tanzania, and pleaded with Tanzania-bound travellers to stop cancelling their bookings. The authority said Tanzanian operators that have regulatory clearance to partner with internationally registered operators through codeshare or block permit arrangements still allow continued operation within destinations in Tanzania, without disruption.'We take this opportunity to reaffirm that Tanzania remains open and accessible, and the aviation sector continues to function under international safety and regulatory standards. These temporary arrangements are designed to preserve business continuity, investor confidence, and service reliability during this period,' TCAA said. National carrier Air Tanzania (ATCL) is among airlines banned from flying within the European Union's airspace because of safety concerns. This decision was based on serious safety concerns identified during assessments conducted by the EU aviation safety experts. They revealed that civil aviation authorities were unable to ensure compliance with international safety standards for air carriers. For Suriname and Tanzania, the identified safety shortcomings cover both operational and regulatory areas. A total of 169 airlines are banned from EU skies. These include a shortage of qualified personnel, ineffective oversight processes in flight operations and airworthiness, and non-compliance with international safety standards by both countries' civil aviation authorities and certified air carriers. The EU Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of member state aviation safety experts, who met in Brussels from May 13 to 15 2025 under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee. This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with support from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The European Parliament's Transport Committee supported the update. Decisions under the EU Air Safety List are based on international safety standards, and notably the standards decreed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Another 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as five individual airlines from other states, based on serious safety deficiencies identified: Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran), Fly Baghdad (Iraq) and Iraqi Airways (Iraq) are either banned from operating in the EU or face operational restrictions. Two additional airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Iran Air (Iran) and Air Koryo (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas insisted that passenger safety remains their top priority. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Business Insider
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Best airlines in Africa in 2025 according to latest ranking
In recent years, Africa's aviation scene has taken flight in a whole new way. Airlines across the continent are modernizing their fleets, expanding their networks, and delivering service that rivals global giants. This progress hasn't gone unnoticed. The prestigious World Airline Awards, often dubbed the 'Oscars of the Aviation Industry', recently revealed their 2025 rankings, showcasing the best airlines based on passenger satisfaction. Organized by Skytrax, the awards are determined through the largest airline passenger survey in the world, with travellers from over 100 nationalities voting between September 2024 and May 2025. Ethiopian Airlines remains the gold standard, once again named Best Airline in Africa, a title it has now held for seven consecutive years. The airline, known for its vast global network and efficient operations, also earned top honours for Best Economy Class, Best Business Class, and Best Business Class Onboard Catering in Africa. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, noted that the consistency of returning winners shows how much passengers value dependable, high-quality service. DON'T MISS THIS: Top 10 largest airlines in Africa by available seat miles (ASMs) in 2024 Right behind Ethiopian Air is Air Mauritius, which has steadily climbed the rankings to become one of the continent's most respected airlines. In 2025, it claimed second place in the Skytrax rankings. Renowned for its warm hospitality and sleek service, the national carrier of Mauritius connects the island to major destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Below are the best airlines in Africa in 2025: Rank Airline 1 Ethiopian Airlines 2 Air Mauritius 3 RwandAir 4 South African Airways 5 Egyptair 6 Royal Air Maroc 7 Kenya Airways 8 FlySafair 9 LIFT 10 Fastjet
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ethiopian Airlines starts Hyderabad flights: Direct route to Addis Ababa launched; seeks expansion in India
Representative image HYDERABAD: Africa's largest carrier - Ethiopian Airlines - has added Hyderabad to its itinerary on Tuesday with thrice-a-week direct flight services to Addis Ababa. The airlines urged the Indian govt to review the bilateral air service agreement so that it can expand operations in the world's fastest-growing aviation market. "We are in touch with the Indian govt through Ethiopian civil aviation authorities and the Indian embassy to review our bilateral agreement as it has not been revised for over 20 years now. We are pushing for more bilateral slots by year-end," Teklehaimanot G Yohannes, MD- International Services, Ethiopian Airlines Group, told TOI here. He said the airline currently operates 50 weekly dedicated passenger and cargo flights to five Indian cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and now Hyderabad. This includes 38 flights per week to five cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ethiopian Airlines Expands India Footprint with New Hyderabad Route, ET TravelWorld
International 1 min read New air link: Ethiopian connects Hyderabad to Addis Ababa Ethiopian Airlines has inaugurated thrice-weekly passenger flights to Hyderabad, marking its fifth destination in India. The service strengthens connectivity between Africa and India, aligning with the airline's regional expansion strategy. The launch event in Addis Ababa signals growing demand for trade and tourism between the two regions, with Ethiopian now operating over 50 weekly services across India.
IOL News
3 days ago
- General
- IOL News
30 Years of sacrifice: A mother's tears as her pilot son flies her home
An Ethiopian mother's 30 years of hard work as a domestic worker culminate in a heartwarming surprise as her son, now a pilot, flies her home. Every mother dreams of seeing her child soar, but few get to witness it from a seat on a plane flown by their very own child. In a moment that has touched hearts across the globe, an Ethiopian mother's decades of sacrifice came full circle when she stepped onto a plane, only to discover that her son, the child she had worked tirelessly for, was the pilot taking her home. The woman, who spent 30 years working as a domestic worker in Lebanon, endured long hours and years away from her homeland, all to give her son the chance at a better future. Like millions of mothers around the world, she gave up comfort, her own dreams, and even time with her child, driven by a singular, unwavering goal: to give him the life she never had. That love was rewarded in the most beautiful way. As she boarded the Ethiopian Airlines flight back to her country, unaware of the surprise ahead, she was overcome with emotion upon realising that her son - now a fully-fledged pilot, was in the cockpit, ready to fly her home.
