Ethiopian Building Pan-African Aviation Powerhouse, Says Transport, Logistics State Minister

Addis Ababa, November 26, 2025 (FMC) — The Ethiopian Airlines Group is building a pan-African aviation industry that drives the continent’s growth, Transport and Logistics State Minister Dhenge Boru said.

Speaking at the opening of the 5th General Assembly of Association of African Aviation Training Organizations (AATO) today, the State Minister said Ethiopian Airlines is a pan-African institution that continues to shape the trajectory of the aviation industry across the continent through disciplined investment, long-term planning and professional excellence.

He highlighted the launching of the construction of the new Bishoftu International Airport, with an investment of more than 12 billion USD, as part of the country’s strategic leadership plan in the development of the aviation sector in the continent.

The State Minister emphasized that aviation remains a vital economic engine for Africa by connecting nations, enabling trade, facilitates tourism, and ensuring the timely delivery of life-saving supplies.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has indicated a potential need for over 2 million new aviation professionals globally by 2030, it was learned.

Africa’s aviation growth, driven by frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), is expected to generate substantial new opportunities for employment, training, and investment.

According to Dhenge, the Ethiopian Airlines Group’s Vision 2035 targets to reach more than 67 million passengers and 3.73 million tons of cargo by 2035 through increased capacity and upgrading airports and aviation facilities, cargo terminals, streamlining airport services and the flow of passengers, and expanding the network of Ethiopian airports to ensure greater aviation capacity and connectivity throughout Ethiopia and the broader African continent.

Association of African Aviation Training Organizations (ATTO) President Tendani Ndou said Africa’s aviation training organizations have developed digitalization and modernization roadmaps that are enhancing the type of infrastructure to train aviation personals.

Building skilled and strong human capital development is crucial for resilient aviation and sustainable air transport growth which is difficult without modernizing the aviation sector from paperless to automated as the global aviation is changing rapidly, she added.

She praised the Ethiopian Aviation University and the Civil Aviation Authority for their “dedicated effort, time, and resources” in elevating ATTO’s work on the continent.

Ethiopian Aviation University President, Leake Tadesse, said on his part that Africa will rank among the world’s fastest-growing air travel regions by 2035 and this growth is driven by rising population, increasing urbanization and expanding economic activities.

“Africa must (therefore) invest aggressively in building a highly skilled aviation workforce to unlock its full potential,” he added.

Recognizing the continent-wide shortage of skilled aviation workers, more than 25,000 aviation professionals were trained and over 280,000 personnel kept up to date through recurrent training programs, the President revealed.

Ethiopian Aviation University now provides training in over 50 African countries, offering specialized programs across multiple aviation disciplines, it was learned.