By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ethiopian Airlines has concluded plans to commence the manufacturing of aircraft parts in partnership with Boeing at an initial cost of $15m, a project expected to generate at least 300 job opportunities, the government’s investment company has announced.
The Ethiopian Investment Commission said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the state-owned carrier, rated as the biggest in Africa has already signed the deal involving the local state Industrial Parks Development Corporation
The venture will make “aerospace parts, including aircraft thermo-acoustic insulation blankets, electrical wire harnesses, and other parts,” the commission said.
“The investment project is expected to create employment opportunities for more than 300 Ethiopians,” it said.
The commission did not say when production would commence even as Boeing has not reacted to the claim.
Other African carriers like Kenya Airways have said that a shortage of parts, caused by the Ukraine war crisis which cut the supply of Russian titanium which is an essential component of global aviation, has led to flight disruptions.
It has not been ascertained if Ethiopian Airlines has also suffered from a similar lack of parts.
The airline has a fleet of 140 aircraft.
It said in June that its earnings rose by a fifth to $6.1bn in its latest financial year.
