Ethiopian Aviation Academy Graduates 347 Aviation Professionals

. Group CEO re-appointed to IATA board of governors

Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy, the largest and one of the most technologically advanced aviation learning institutions in Africa which is recognised as ICAO centre of excellence with full membership of ICAO TRAINAIR Plus and IATA authorised global training centre, has graduated 25 pilots, 35 aviation maintenance technicians, 43 cabin crew and 244 commercial and ground service professionals at a colourful ceremony held at Ethiopian Aviation Academy recently.

This round of graduates includes Rwandese nationals, which testifies Ethiopian Airlines key role in African integration and self-sufficiency.

On the ceremony, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam congratulated the graduates and gave out diplomas to all the graduates, flight wings to graduating pilots and cabin crew and achievement award to outstanding academic performers.

He said “Our sharp focus in human resource development and adequate and timely investment in our Aviation Academy’s internal capacity building are the strong foundation for the remarkable success in our vision 2025 strategic road map of fast, profitable and sustainable growth. Adequate number and quality of qualified aviation professionals are the prerequisite for a successful and vibrant African aviation industry and Ethiopian Aviation Academy is working hard to progressively realize this objective.”

Ethiopian Aviation Academy is certified by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the U.S Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and IATA Safety Audit (IOSA).

The airline’s Group CEO Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam has been re-appointed to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors for a three year-term at the 72nd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Dublin, Ireland.

GebreMariam has also been appointed to the IATA Strategy and Policy Committee. He has been serving to the Board of governors since 2013. The IATA Board of Governors has 31 members, who are elected from the representatives’ of IATA active member airlines. Its members exercise an oversight and executive role on behalf of the membership as a whole in representing the interests of the Association and the Board of Governors acts as the government of IATA, which represents around 260 airlines in over 117 countries, carrying 83 per cent of the world’s air traffic.

Among the Board of Governors members, 11 key members are elected as the Strategy and Policy Committee member, which acts on behalf of the Board with respect to the duties and authority delegated to it by the Board. Subject to review and approval by the Board, it has an overall responsibility for industry policy and for providing policy directives and guidance to the Industry Committees and subsidiary bodies as well as policy guidance to the IATA Traffic Conferences and to industry settlement plans.

Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam also serves as a member on the High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (HLAG-ST) with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as an Executive Committee member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), A Board member of the Airlink Advisory Council, A member of Board of Directors of Africa Travel Association (ATA), A member of Board of Directors of Ethio-Telecom, A Board member of Ethiopian Railway Corporation, A Board Member of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia; and The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO). Mr. Tewolde has received prominent awards from different organizations including The Best African Business Leader and Professional Excellence Award. The re-appointment of the Ethiopian Group CEO to this prestigious airlines association IATA Board of Governors and his appointment to the Strategy and Policy Committee is recognition of Ethiopian fastest growth and significant role in the development of the African Aviation Industry as well as Ethiopian sound and commendable growth plan, vision 2025.