The Ethiopian Airline has called upon Kenyan Airline (KQ) to partner in joint procurement of aircraft equipment and lower the cost of operation.
Ethiopian airline strategic planning and alliance vice-president Henok Teferra said this was one way the airlines will increase return in capital and have a strategic position in African routes that are dominated by Turkish Airlines and Emirates.
Ethiopian airline is currently the Africa’s largest in revenue and profit and has overtaken Dubai as a conduit for long-haul passengers to Africa under its strategic expansion plans.
“This is all for survival. African market is fragmented and this integration would be important to raise the market share to compete with Asia Pacific, Europe and America carriers at 50-50 per cent share,” Teferra said.
In the connectivity solutions, Teferra said that the airlines would also liaise in training of crew.
This is despite Kenya having signed in October an agreement with Federation Aviation Authority in Washington, D.C to train aviation professionals at the East African School of Aviation (EASA).
A report by International Air Transport Association (IATA) released early this year showed that African airlines received a 7.5 per cent increase in traffic in 2017 compared to 2016.
The international passenger capacity rose by less than half the rate of demand at 3.6 per cent, and load factor jumped 2.5 per cent to 70.3 per cent.