Ethiopian Airlines has become the 28th airline to join the Star Alliance, and the third from the African continent after South African Airways and Egyptair.
Ethiopian is the only carrier to join Star Alliance this year, with Air India’s inauguration having been put on hold in July as the carrier had failed to meet minimum joining conditions (see online news August 1).
Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order, with the first due for delivery in the second quarter of 2012.
The carrier will be the first African airlines to receive the aircraft, and says it will use the 787 to expand its presence into more markets worldwide, including new destinations in the Far East.
Future members of the Star Alliance include Avianca-TACA, Copa Airlines (see online news November 11, 2010), and Shenzhen Airlines (see online news July 6).
For more information visit flyethiopian.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
