The agreement will boost Ethiopian MRO’s in-house ATR maintenance capabilities and establish a local spare parts stock to reduce response times for regional operators.
ATR has formalized a Letter of Intent with Ethiopian MRO Services, to develop repair and training capabilities for their aircraft from Ethiopian MRO’s base in Addis Ababa. this agreement outlines a strategic initiative to augment Ethiopian MRO Services’s capabilities in maintaining and training for ATR aircraft. The collaboration represents a pivotal development in ATR’s strategic expansion within the African and Middle Eastern markets, facilitating improved support for regional operators and promoting sectoral growth.
The cooperation will enhance Ethiopian MRO Services’ maintenance capabilities for ATR aircraft types, including establishing a localized spare parts inventory to reduce response times for ATR operators in the region. Additionally, the partnership will explore collaborative training initiatives for new ATR pilots in conjunction with Ethiopian Aviation University, a leading institution in modern aviation education.
Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines said, “This partnership aligns with Ethiopian Airlines Group’s vision to become a leading aviation reference for the African continent and the Middle East. We aim to share our expertise and benefit the entire African and Middle Eastern aviation community. This collaboration reinforces Ethiopia’s positioning as a key hub, and the fact that an established OEM such as ATR approaches us to leverage our capabilities for their fleet and operators is a testament to the recognition we have earned.“
While certain African and Middle East areas boast thriving regional aviation networks, particularly with turboprops serving crucial roles in local business, goods transport, and tourism, the region remains significantly under-connected. Currently, 67% of routes under 500 nautical miles are serviced once daily or less, accounting for only 11% of available seats. Most air traffic is concentrated on a limited number of well-served trunk routes, with decreasing connectivity from secondary cities. Turboprop aircraft offer a reliable and cost-effective solution for enhancing domestic and subregional connectivity, bypassing the need for costly and environmentally impactful ground infrastructure development.
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Ethiopian MRO’s significant investments over the past years to expand their facilities combined with their dedication to developing their capabilities, present a timely opportunity for ATR to provide better support to our African and Middle Eastern operators. We are confident this cooperation will help boost regional aviation locally and unlock further potential for growth. Our operators will benefit from an improved quality of service, lower maintenance costs, reduced downtimes and lower emissions through the support of an experienced partner close to their needs.”
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With their exceptional versatility, fuel efficiency, and low operating costs, ATR aircraft are well-suited to address the increasing connectivity demands of regional communities. In alignment with its strategy to enhance customer satisfaction and regional expertise, ATR appointed a Regional Field Service Representative in Ethiopia at the end of 2023. This initiative aims to strengthen customer relationships and improve service quality by fostering closer engagement with local operators.
