Newly upgraded Ethiopian Aviation University graduated 676 professionals including 88 pilots in a ceremony held in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, has continued its celebrated growth with making a historic order of a large number of aircrafts last month during an air show held in United Arab Emirates.
It’s also working in acquiring stakes in other struggling airlines across the continent. Its expansion plans, however, are sometimes criticized as a little too aggressive.
The airline also says it’s committed to the development of human resources, which it’s CEO Mesfin Tasew called “one of the key pillars of Ethiopian Airlines’ growth strategy.” But, he added, the carrier is “keen to provide Africa with skilled aviation professionals.”
Not all the graduates were from Ethiopia as some came from other African countries according to the CEO.
Among the graduates were 125 aircraft technicians and 150 cabin crews; the remaining were commercial trainees. Nearly half of the graduates are female according to data provided by the carrier.
Ethiopian has training facilities outside the capital in cities like Dire Dawa and Hawassa.
The airline boasts more than 150 domestic and international flight destinations for passengers and cargo. It says it aims to be among the world’s twenty leading airlines by 2035.