Ethiopian Airlines marked International Women’s Day on Saturday with eight all-women operated flights to destinations across four continents, including Accra, as Africa’s largest airline group used the occasion to highlight both its commitment to gender inclusion and its 80th year in service.
The eight destinations Cairo, Djibouti, Nairobi, Frankfurt, Accra, Mumbai, Windhoek and Dire Dawa were selected to mirror the airline’s eight decades of operation, a symbolic link to its first scheduled service to Cairo in 1946. Each flight was staffed entirely by women across all operational and cabin roles.
The airline launched the initiative at an event on the evening of March 7 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, attended by government officials, airline executives, women’s leaders and staff from partner organisations.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew said the airline has consistently worked to advance women’s participation across flight operations, leadership and corporate functions, and described the 80th anniversary celebration as a particularly fitting moment to demonstrate that commitment publicly.
Women currently represent approximately 40 percent of the Ethiopian Airlines Group workforce across its various business divisions. The airline has operated all-women functioned flights annually in celebration of International Women’s Day since 2015, making Saturday’s edition the 11th consecutive year of the initiative.
Ethiopian Airlines holds the Skytrax Best Airline in Africa Award for eight consecutive years and operates to more than 160 domestic and international destinations across five continents as a member of the Star Alliance network. The carrier is pursuing a Vision 2035 strategic plan targeting a position among the top 20 most competitive aviation groups globally.
