It was exactly on 04th June 2014, the first Flight of the African airline Ethiopian Airlines landed at Schwechat International Airport in Austria. On board was the team from our station Radio Afrika Tv. It was the beginning of an African story in European aviation.
At that time, the news that ET had a head office in Vienna was not easy to believe, either in the African community nor for the Austrian public.
During these 10 years, Ethiopian Airline’s staff in Vienna have had three regional managers. The current Mrs SABA KASSAYE, is the one who has the honor of celebrating and organizing the commemoration ceremonies of 10 years of ET in Vienna.
Ethiopian Airline’s base in Vienna is well chosen, as Vienna is at the central of Europe and offers many openings or transits to both Eastern Europe and the rest of Europe. Vienna is also a metropolis with many historical, cultural and diplomatic opportunities, including the headquarters of the United Nations. The Vienna airport authorities are delighted with the cooperation with ET. According to Julian Jäger of Vienna International Airport, ET already serves more than a million passengers a year.
Since the Beginning, Ethiopian Airline’s flights have been increased from four flights a week to daily flights, i.e. seven flights a week.
The COVID 19 pandemic was not going to let this comfort for too long. Despite this COVID, ET was able to maintain its flights and adapt them to the prevailing circumstances. Mr TEKLE GEBREYOHANNES, Deputy CCO and Managing Director International Services of Ethiopian Airlines Group in Addis Ababa, made the trip to enhance ET’s 10th anniversary celebrations with his presence.
He was proud of the company’s tenth anniversary and expressed his wish for continuity, including an increase in daily flight frequencies.
The colorful ceremonies celebrating ten years of Ethiopian Airline in Vienna took place this on 06.06.2024. At this ceremony many distinguished guests who have taken part in these ceremonies have also praised the merits of ten years ET in Vienna. Among them:
– HE Mr. LISANEWORK GORFU- Minister Plenipotentiary Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the UN Nations office in Geneva – HE Ambassador Mr. Rapulane Sydney Molecane, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Vienna and other ambassadors, finally Julian Jäger, CEO and COO Vienna International Airport
Ethiopian Airline’s ten-year anniversary ceremony in Vienna was also enhanced by the recognition of ET staff, African musical presentations including the famous Mamadou Diabaté with his balafon, the Assane African Band – with African dances and tanbours, and the Austrian colors imparted by the World-Renowed Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra. The lucky ones of the evening went home with Tombola tickets to a lovely destination of their choice with ET
The commemoration of ten years of Ethiopian Airline in Vienna was also an opportunity for Mrs SABA Kassaye, the Regional Manager, to look back not only on the different experiences, merits as well as the hardest moments in the history of ET during these ten years in Vienna, but also on her achievements.
With its slogan “The new spirit of Africa”, both Ms Kassaye and Mr TEKLE GEBREYOHANNES, emphasized the fact that ET is fulfilling its mission or role as an ambassador for Africa, not only in Vienna but throughout the world. Both Ms Kassaye and Mr TEKLE GEBREYOHANNES, Deputy CCO and Managing Director International Services of Ethiopian Airlines Group in Addis Ababa, who had made the trip, were aware that Ethiopian Airline’s headquarters in Vienna must continue to be strengthened.
