(Posted 05th May 2025)
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier and one of the world’s fastest-growing
airline brands, proudly announces the graduation of 974 aviation trainees from its
Aviation University. The colorful ceremony, held on May 3, 2025, at Ethiopian
Aviation University, was attended by Ambassadors, representatives from each
country, the airline executives, graduates’ families and distinguished guests.
The graduates specialized in various fields, including Aircraft Maintenance (184),
Pilot Training (43), Cabin Crew (448), Commercial Operations (255), and Hotel
Operations (44), representing diverse African nationalities as well as Chinese
nationals. Among the graduates are 38 Chinese, 34 Congolese, 19 Mozambican, 8
Cameroonian, 2 Gabonese, 1 Zambian, 1 South Sudanese, 1 Ugandan, and 1 Sierra
Leonean. Of the 974 graduates, 614 are female and 360 are male. This milestone
highlights Ethiopian Airlines’ pivotal role in shaping the future of African aviation by
building skilled aviation professionals across the continent. It also reflects the airline’s
longstanding partnership with China, as the first African carrier to establish direct
flights to China back in 1973, further strengthening ties through training and
knowledge sharing.
Reflecting on the graduation ceremony, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin
Tasew commented, “We are immensely proud to see our students graduate today, having
successfully completed their training and demonstrated remarkable academic achievements. I
am confident that you will carry this success into your future careers, leveraging the diverse
resources you have gained from this esteemed university, which is equipped with cutting-edge
technologies and staffed by seasoned aviation professionals. Ethiopian Aviation University will continue to be a center of aviation excellence, serving not only the continent and the region but
also beyond.”
Ethiopian Aviation University has proudly graduated over 20,000 aviation
professionals from Ethiopia, across the continent, and beyond over its nearly 70 years
of establishment. The university offers a wide range of programs, including certificate
and diploma courses for pilots, aircraft maintenance, and cabin crew. Since achieving
university status in March 2023, it has expanded its academic offerings to include
undergraduate and graduate degrees such as BSc in Aeronautical Engineering, BSc in
Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, BSc in Aviation Management, BA in Tourism &
Hospitality Management, and MBA in Aviation Management.
Ethiopian Aviation University continues its rapid expansion, now delivering
comprehensive training programs in Addis Ababa, Hawassa, and Dire Dawa. This
growth highlights our unwavering dedication to shaping the next generation of
aviation professionals across Ethiopia and beyond. Currently, the university has the
capacity to enroll about 4,000 students annually, and under the airline’s robust “Vision
2035,” it envisions accommodating around 7,000 students in the years ahead.
