(Posted 12th July 2026)
Tewolde Gebremariam has taken over as Chief Executive Officer at Pakistan International Airlines.
- Ethiopian Airlines grew into Africa’s largest carrier under the leadership of Tewolde Gebremariam
- Development follows Pakistan’s transfer of PIA’s control to new owners, advancing landmark privatization
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has selected former head of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive officer, two officials said on Saturday, as the former Pakistan state carrier seeks to revive its operations.
Under Tewolde’s leadership, Ethiopian Airlines grew into Africa’s largest carrier and provided a link to cities around the continent from its transit hub in Addis Ababa.
His appointment could boost Arif Habib Group-led consortium’s bid to revive the struggling Pakistani airline, privatized in Dec. after accumulating over $2.8 billion in losses over the years.
Arab News reached out to Arif Habib, chairman of the Arif Habib Group, but he did not respond. However, a well-placed PIA official confirmed that Tewolde has been selected to take the airline’s helm.
“The PIA would not announce his name until all the security clearances are not completed,” an official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.
A major PIA shareholder also confirmed the development.
“He (Tewolde) has been hired. He is a very capable person and has done a lot of turnarounds,” the shareholder said, declining to be named.
The development comes more than a week after Pakistan announced the first closing of the divestment of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) through privatization and transfer of its management control to the consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation, following satisfaction of all conditions under the Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement (SPSA).
Under the first closing, the consortium paid ?Rs10 billion ($36 million) to the government as sale proceeds, and injected ?Rs80 billion ($288 million) into PIACL as fresh equity to strengthen the airline’s financial position, support fleet expansion and modernization, expand its route network, and enhance operational performance and customer service.
The bidding process, held on December 23rd last year, led to a total investment commitment by the consortium of Rs180 billion ($643 million), out of which Rs55 billion ($197 million) will be paid to Pakistani government for the sale of PIA and Rs125 billion ($449 million) are to be injected into the airline to support its long-term transformation and to revive the national carrier to its past glory, according to the Privatization Commission.
The second closing is scheduled to take place within 12 months of the first closing, in accordance with the terms of the SPSA, whereby the consortium has committed to invest a further Rs45 billion ($161 million) into PIACL. The consortium has also served its intent to buy the remaining 25 percent of the PIACL shares as a call option under the SPSA for an additional payment of Rs45 billion ($161 million) to the government.
Tewolde is the second former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines taking charge at a foreign national airline, after Girma Wake earlier this year was asked by the Ugandan government to steer Uganda Airlines out of trouble, a situation caused by the former management which in its final months spent more time defending themselves than running the airlines.
