Ethiopian Airlines has completed Africa’s first full strip-and-paint programme on the Airbus A350-900, marking a significant milestone in the development of advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities on the continent.

 

The programme, completed on two A350-900 aircraft, represents a major advancement in Ethiopian MRO’s technical capacity and operational expertise. It follows the recent introduction of full strip-and-paint capabilities on the Boeing 787 fleet, further strengthening the airline’s in-house widebody composite aircraft painting capabilities.

 

Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew described the achievement as a meaningful step forward in the group’s long-term strategy to build world-class MRO capabilities. He noted that the successful execution of the A350-900 programme, together with the earlier Boeing 787 painting capability, reflects Ethiopian’s continued investment in advanced composite structure maintenance. According to Tasew, the development enhances operational resilience, strengthens self-reliance and elevates Ethiopian’s global standing, while also creating opportunities to generate additional revenue and reinforce its position as a leading MRO service provider in Africa and the wider region.

 

As one of the continent’s leading aircraft maintenance service providers, Ethiopian MRO has delivered aircraft maintenance services for nearly six decades. Its offerings include advanced aircraft and component painting and coating solutions, supported by a modern paint shop and a dedicated, state-of-the-art paint hangar. These facilities serve not only Ethiopian Airlines’ own fleet but also third-party customers across Africa and the Middle East.

 

Ethiopian Airlines now maintains comprehensive in-house aircraft painting and specialised multi-layer coating capabilities across its entire fleet, covering both advanced composite and aluminium airframes. This enables the airline to efficiently manage painting and coating projects using advanced application techniques such as High-Volume Low-Pressure and electrostatic spraying systems.

 

The milestone forms part of Ethiopian Airlines Group’s broader evolution as a global aviation group. Operating flights to more than 160 passenger and cargo destinations across five continents, Ethiopian continues to expand its network using a modern fleet that includes Boeing 737, 777 and 787 aircraft, Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, and De Havilland Q400 turboprops.

 

 A member of Star Alliance, the airline has received multiple international awards, including Skytrax’s Best Airline in Africa award for eight consecutive years, and continues to pursue growth under its Vision 2035 strategic plan.