Under the agreement, Ethiopian MRO Services will advance its maintenance expertise for ATR aircraft and establish a local spare parts inventory to expedite response times for ATR operators in the region. Additionally, the partnership will explore joint initiatives to train new ATR pilots in collaboration with the Ethiopian Aviation University, the region’s leading aviation training institution.

 

Ethiopian MRO Services is well-equipped to support this partnership, with comprehensive maintenance and repair capabilities, an international spare parts delivery network, multiple hubs across the continent, and a top-tier aviation training university. This makes Ethiopian MRO Services an ideal partner to meet the needs of the 36 airlines operating 131 ATR aircraft across Africa and the Middle East.

 

Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, commented on the strategic agreement, stating, “This partnership aligns with Ethiopian Airlines Group’s vision to become a leading aviation reference for the African continent and the Middle East. We aim to share our expertise and benefit the entire African and Middle Eastern aviation community. This collaboration reinforces Ethiopia’s positioning as a key hub, and the fact that an established OEM such as ATR approaches us to leverage our capabilities for their fleet and operators is a testament to the recognition we have earned.”

 

Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer, added, “Ethiopian MRO’s significant investments over the past years to expand their facilities combined with their dedication to developing their capabilities present a timely opportunity for ATR to provide better support to our African and Middle Eastern operators. We are confident this cooperation will help boost regional aviation locally and unlock further potential for growth. Our operators will benefit from improved quality of service, lower maintenance costs, reduced downtimes, and lower emissions through the support of an experienced partner close to their needs.”

 

While some areas in Africa and the Middle East boast thriving regional aviation networks, the region remains significantly underconnected. Currently, 67% of routes under 500NM are served once daily or less, comprising only 11% of available seats. Most air traffic is concentrated on a limited number of well-served main routes, while connectivity from secondary cities is decreasing. Turboprops offer a cost-effective and reliable solution for domestic and subregional travel, avoiding the need for expensive and environmentally disruptive ground infrastructure projects.

 

ATR aircraft, known for their exceptional versatility, fuel efficiency, and low operating costs, are ideally suited to meet the growing connectivity demands in the region. To further enhance customer satisfaction and regional expertise, ATR established a Regional Field Service Representative in Ethiopia at the end of 2023. This initiative aims to foster closer relationships with customers and improve their overall experience.