Ethiopian Airlines Made History with First All-female Operated Flight

    ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, November 20, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On November 19, 2015, Ethiopian Airlines made aviation history with a flight completely planned, operated, and executed solely by women. As part of Ethiopian's corporate program for "Women Empowerment for a Sustainable Growth," this monumental flight demonstrates the leadership of women in the airline industry.

This direct flight from Addis Ababa to Bangkok had every detail handled by female Ethiopian Airlines' employees including: flight deck operations, flight dispatch, load controller, ramp operations, baggage handling, on-board logistics, aviation safety and security, ticketing, catering, air traffic control, and more. Marking this event, Ethiopian senior female executives were passengers on this flight.

Dubbed the "Daughters of Lucy" after the world's oldest hominid fossil, these women worked to implement a successful event to show the world that the key to progress is an embrace of all backgrounds, genders, and abilities. "We are very proud of these female aviation professionals and their contributions to Ethiopia and the world," says Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam. "This is an opportunity to inspire young African female students to believe in their dreams and embark to fill the skill gap for aviation professionals."

As the United Nations co-chair of the Sustainable Transport Group, GebreMariam adds, "Gender equality will be an important issue in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ethiopian is dedicated to support this noble cause and ensure that the number of women in key operational positions grow."

About Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing airline in Africa. In seven decades of operations, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers with more than 91 international destinations across the world. Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate the modern, environmentally friendly aircraft including: Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, and more. Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 in order lead aviation in Africa in every direction.

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