ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES SELLS FOKKER 50 FLEET
It was confirmed from a periodic source in Addis Ababa that Ethiopian Airlines has sold their entire fleet of turboprop Fokker 50 aircraft to a buyer in South East Asia, reportedly to a company based in Singapore.
The 5 aircraft are expected to yield anywhere between 30 and 35 million US Dollars although it is possible that the buyers may have negotiated better terms.
In line with a recent announcement that ET will install a Bombardier Q400 simulator at their aviation academy at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, it is a foregone conclusion that Africas leading airline will purchase more Q400s to replace the aged Fokkers and provide more economical operating financials. Ethiopian according to data available currently flies 8 of the Bombardier turboprop aircraft.
No confirmation of an immediate announcement of additional aircraft purchases was however forthcoming by the time of going to press.
In the meantime has ET also announced that flights to Muscat / Oman were due to be launched shortly while further information about the delayed flights to Mahe / Seychelles puts the April to June period into the frame for starting flights. Watch this space for regular and breaking news updates from East Africas vibrant aviation sector.
