By: Travel and tour World

Ethiopian Airlines has made a giant step forward in arming Africa’s aviation industry with the most advanced MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facilities, with the opening of its $150 million MRO works in Addis Ababa. The new facilities feature modern aircraft hangars, a fully furnished Aircraft Component Shop, and a high-capacity Aircraft Parts Store and became operational on 22 July 2025.

It’s the anchor investment by Ethiopian under its new Vision 2035 strategic roadmap, which calls for increasing Ethiopian investments to create a world class pan-African airline.

New facilities added to serve larger regional market

Constructed within less than two years, the new aviation facilities have been developed to manage Ethiopian air brands domestic and international growing flow. The twin hangars, equipped with latest technology and automation systems, can accommodate the airline’s new generation aircraft. In Addition, a component shop and a parts store will provide vital support for the expanding fleet of Ethiopian Airlines, making the carrier one the few equipped for new technology aircraft like the Boeing and Airbus models.

These shops will dramatically reduce the turnaround time, deploy technologies that ensure we make significant savings in cost and time to bring our airplanes back to service and to avoid outsourcing the maintenance of our aircraft – The Airline added in the statement that will make it the leading MRO service provider in Africa.

Driving Innovation and Economic Development

At the launch, which took place at Ethiopian Airlines’ headquarters, senior government officials and leaders in the aviation industry celebrated the development as a historic moment not only in the history of Ethiopia, but also for the continent at large. Airline leaders stressed that the greater vision is to facilitate technology transfer, skills development and sustainable economic development through higher numbers of jobs and modern infrastructure.

The investment closely dovetails with Ethiopia’s national development aspirations, particularly in the sectors of aviation, logistics and industrial capacity building. It also accords with the African Union’s larger goal of facilitating intra-African connectivity and industrial self-sufficiency.

Why becomes clearer in Vision 2035: A Crafted Game Plan for Pan-African Excellence

“It is a game-changing step and we are proud to be here indicators of a paradigm shift in the airline-industry in Africa,” Mesfin Tasew, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, said of the unveiling. The Vision 2035 is committed to doubling of the airline’s passenger and cargo destinations, group companies and strategically develop the domestic market in order to create opportunities for new and profitable routes and develop Addis Ababa Bole International airport as a hub in the continent that complies with ICAO standards and industry best practices.

“372 Ethiopian now has the capability to serve its own aircraft, and work on other African and non-African nations aircrafts,” said Shiferaw. Ethiopian’s MRO to Help Increase Role of Ethiopia in the Global Airline Industry ethiopianairlines.com Photo The new MRO facility will not only serve Ethiopian’s growing fleet, but other African and International airlines flying to Addis Ababa.

Skills Development and Workforce Empowerment

In support of the infrastructure development, Ethiopian Airlines is also expanding its training services and the Ethiopian Aviation Academy. As it aims to train thousands of technicians, engineers and airline professionals over the next decade, the academy will serve as the primary recruiting source for a labour pool that will be responsible for retaining the airline’s technical operations.

This focus on human capital assures the long term sustainability in an industry confronted with a chronic international shortage of maintenance personnel and aircraft engineers.

Boosting Regional Competitiveness in Aviation

It remains a tough environment in Africa’s red wing, from under-investment to over-reliance on foreign MRO partners. Ethiopian Airlines’ initiative bucks this trend by developing in-house capacity which reinforces the continent’s aviation sovereignty.

The new maintenance center released the African airline from a position of operational dependence, and has made Addis Ababa an affordable economical destination for regional airlines in need of high-quality MRO solutions—and by extension brings vitality to the Ethiopian economy through regional collaborations and aviation business.