Ethiopia addresses aviation sector bottlenecks with first independent charter
The Africa Business Aviation Association has launched a first of its kind independent charter in Ethiopia addressing opportunities and challenges in the aviation industry while reviewing the overall status of the aviation industry in Ethiopia.
Over 40 delegates drawn from private operators, aviation suppliers, Ethiopian Airlines, and members of the media discussed the health of the aviation industry in Ethiopia at the conference.
“We have identified two countries that we believe will witness major growth in the upcoming decade. One of those two countries is Ethiopia. We, as your association, have been fortunate to observe the factors that have created growth in certain countries around Africa, and I am here to share with you that it is our belief that it is only a matter of time before Ethiopia becomes a major business aviation hub. It is inevitable - in our best judgment - that Ethiopia will join, or perhaps lead Africa in business aviation, just like it currently does in commercial aviation,” AfBAA's executive director Mr. Rady Fahmy said.
Margareth Josephath Kyarwenda, secretary general of the newly created Association of African Aviation Training Organizations emphasized aviation's role in supporting “free movement of people and cargo in a fast and efficient way...and how it plays a crucial role in economic prosperity. Africa's initiative of a single air transport market will ensure that policies allow a conducive environment for the development and provision of safe, reliable and affordable air transport in Africa, necessary for the free movement of persons, goods and services in the continent.”
She also stressed the importance of having well trained and qualified, home grown human resources that will meet the rising demand for aviation professionals in Africa.
Dawit Lemma, AfBAA-Ethiopia Chapter's president and founder of Krimson, an aviation consulting firm called on players to establish the business aviation sector in Ethiopia by working collectively with all local stakeholders.
“It is the dream of Bole Airport (Addis Ababa) to become Africa's premium business aviation hub that I impart on you. It is this dream that we as Ethiopian aviation stakeholders should aspire to. It is this dream that we as a nation together will accomplish. The realisation of this dream and vision, in concert with all of you today is now in motion. The creation of the AfBAA Ethiopia Chapter, and today's Country Roundtable are just the first steps. As president of the Ethiopian Chapter of AfBAA it is my mandate to establish and promote a thriving business aviation sector in Ethiopia. It is this mission that I am here to serve and to confirm. It is this vision that I am here to make a reality,” he said.
The deliberations at the conference included drafting an action plan document that would identify the challenges that private operators face, and suggest solutions to alleviate those challenges with the draft document being present to delegates to review and feedback before sharing the final document with government.
