Ethiopian Airways joins Star Alliance
By Gift Chanda
Wed 14 Dec. 2011, 13:30 CAT




ETHIOPIAN Airways has joined the global airline network, Star Alliance, in a move aimed at improving the East African airline's services.

Ethiopian Airways said joining Star Alliance would increase traffic volume and subsequently the airline's revenue.

"Through Star Alliance, the Ethiopian Airways will be able to access 21,410 daily flights in 189 countries," the company said in an emailed statement.

According to the airline, by joining Star Alliance, more travellers from Ethiopia and across Africa would benefit from the Star Alliance's worldwide reach via its extensive network.

It is expected that with this move, Ethiopian Airways would be part of the existing network the alliance covers which is: 4382 number of aircrafts, 409,152 employees, 652.24 million passengers transported per year, US $160.3 billion sales revenue and 21,410 daily departures.

The company stated that joining the network would make the airline stronger as it was before.

Established in 1997, the Star Alliance Group has 28 member airlines, including Ethiopian.

Ethiopian Airways applied to be a member of the group two years ago.

It has become the third African carrier to join Star Alliance after South African Airways and Egypt Air.