Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline group and leading MRO operator, has inaugurated its CFM Leap-1B engine test cell at the Addis Ababa MRO Services facility.
This new addition grants Ethiopian Airlines full testing capabilities for the Leap-1B engine, the exclusive powerplant for Boeing’s next-generation 737 MAX single-aisle jet.
Commenting on this significant milestone, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, expressed, “We are proud to achieve full testing capability for the CFM Leap-1B engine at our modern MRO facility in Addis Ababa.
This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to complete the development of the Performance Restoration Shop Visit (PRSV1) repair capability on the engine, which is expected to be ready very soon. We extend our appreciation to SAE, GE, and our other partners who contributed to this success.”
The new Leap-1B testing facility positions Ethiopian Airlines as the fifth facility globally outside the Safran Aero Engines (SAE) and General Electric (GE) network, and the first in the Middle East and Africa with such advanced capabilities.
Ethiopian Airlines aims to complete Phase 2 of the Performance Restoration Shop Visit (PRSV1) project by the end of September 2024. This will enable the airline to offer Leap-1B PRSV solutions for customers in the region and beyond.
Ethiopian Airlines owns the largest MRO Service facility in Africa. Established in 1957, Ethiopian MRO Services provides Line Maintenance services at stations where Ethiopian flies and extends these services to operators in Africa and the Middle East.
The facility is fully equipped with hangars, engine and component maintenance workshops, and all necessary equipment for repairing and overhauling aircraft, engines, and components.
Ethiopian MRO offers world-class services to its customers, contributing to Ethiopian’s reputation as one of the most dependable and safest airlines globally.
The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), among others, have certified the Ethiopian MRO facility.
Ethiopian Airlines Group is one of the fastest-growing airline brands globally and the largest on the continent.
In its seventy-eight years of successful operations, Ethiopian has become one of Africa’s leading carriers, known for its efficiency and operational success.
Ethiopian Airlines dominates the African passenger and cargo network, operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international destinations across five continents.
The fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900, and De Havilland Q400.
The airline is also pursuing a multi-hub strategy with hubs in Lomé, Togo (ASKY), Lilongwe, Malawi (Malawi Airlines), and Lusaka, Zambia (Zambia Airways).
Having achieved its Vision 2025 strategic plan ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan, Vision 2035, aiming to become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world.
Ethiopian has won various prestigious awards, including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for seven consecutive years. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and has seen more than threefold growth in the past decade.
