Ethiopian Airlines will enter the market for aircraft interiors

Rob Finlayson

Ethiopian Airlines Group will start manufacturing aircraft-interior components in Ethiopia, having formed a partnership with the German cabin specialist ACM Aerospace.

Following a feasibility study, Ethiopian declared on July 5 that it had agreed to produce seat covers, seat belts, carpets and other interior parts for ACM Aerospace [19659005] and support more than 100 jobs.

The company's raw materials will initially be imported, but Ethiopia plans to certify its own locally made leathers and fabrics, further supporting the local industry and generating a "considerable amount"

Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines group, said the initiative is consistent with the Ethiopian government's five-year policy of growth and industrialization. [19659005] "We are working in partnership with aircraft manufacturers and other aerospace suppliers to establish and develop a labor-intensive aerospace manufacturing industry with a broad portfolio of products," he said. Gebremariam, general manager of ACM Aerospace Arash Noshari. create a "very strong partnership", which will increase the number of domestic products of aircraft manufactured in Ethiopia.

This initiative is part of the diversification of Ethiopian Airlines as part of its 15-year Vision 2025 strategic plan.

Victoria Moores [email protected]