Ethiopian Airlines CEO: Nigerian Can Cancel National Carrier Project — We Won’t Be Disappointed

Mesfin Tasew, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Ethiopian Airlines, says the company did not have any intention or plan to set up an airline in Nigeria.

Tasew spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In May 2023, Hadi Sirika, former aviation minister, unveiled Nigeria Air, the country’s national carrier, in Abuja. However, the launch was trailed by widespread controversy.

Prior to its launch, domestic aviation firms, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), had opposed the floating of the airline over uncertainties in its ownership structure — a conflict that began soon after Ethiopian Air was announced as the preferred bidder for Nigeria Air.

Consequently, a federal high court in Lagos restrained the government from floating the airline.

On August 31, 2023, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, announced the suspension of the national carrier project.

Speaking on the issue, Tasew said: “In the first place, it was not our initiative, it was the initiative of the government. Now, if the government wants us to cancel the project, it is fine with us.”

The GCEO said Ethiopian Airlines almost withdrew as a bidder for the project, but the government insisted it should continue with the process.

“Ethiopian Airlines didn’t have any intention or plan to set up an airline in Nigeria. In May of 2022, when I took my current responsibility (as Group CEO), a request came from the Nigerian government asking ET (Ethiopian Airlines) to participate in a bid and help the Nigerian government to set up a Nigerian flag carrier. It came in writing,” Tasew said.

“Initially, we didn’t want to go into that. We said we have other initiatives in other countries and we were busy. But the Nigerian government insisted that Ethiopian Airlines is an African airline, it has to help the Nigerian government in setting up the national carrier.

“So, we had to respect them. We serve the Nigerian public and government by flying to four cities in Nigeria; we couldn’t say no, we cannot come and help you. So, we had to submit proposal, we had to respect the Nigerian government.

“And we thought that the Nigerian government had choices, ET being one; because they had also requested other airlines in the Middle East, Europe to participate in the bid. I don’t know whether they participated or not. We submitted our proposal and we received a letter from the Ministry of Aviation, saying that Ethiopian Airlines has been selected to be a partner to set up the airline.”

Tasew said the Nigerian government seeks a structure of Nigerian investing institutions and a 5 percent stake in the airline, despite disagreements in discussions.

“We had a lot of discussions, we agreed but we had some differences in some points,” he said.

As both parties were preparing the shareholder agreement, Tasew said some companies in Nigeria — including airlines — began disparaging and opposing Nigeria Air’s formation in addition to defaming Ethiopian Airlines and the government.

“At that time, we thought that if the Nigerian government doesn’t want it, the Nigerian public doesn’t want it, we could as well withdraw,” he said.

“But the Nigerian government insisted that no, this is a strategic issue for Nigeria and we have to continue.”

Tasew the company has no intention to kill Nigerian airlines, saying “we will not be disappointed if it (Nigeria Air) is cancelled”.