Ethiopian Airlines Soars to New Heights with Africa’s First A350-900 Full Strip and Paint Milestone
In a landmark achievement for African aviation maintenance, Ethiopian Airlines has successfully completed the continent’s first full strip-and-paint program on an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This historic feat was performed in-house on two of the airline’s own state-of-the-art A350s, underscoring a significant leap in technical self-reliance and advanced engineering capability.
The project marks a major expansion for Ethiopian Airlines’ Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, coming shortly after the airline established full strip-and-paint capabilities for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. By mastering this complex procedure on the A350-900—an aircraft renowned for its extensive use of lightweight composite materials—Ethiopian Technicians have solidified their expertise in handling the most advanced aviation materials in the world.
“This is a proud moment, not just for Ethiopian Airlines, but for African aviation as a whole,” said a senior executive from Ethiopian Airlines’ MRO division. “Successfully executing this intricate program in our own facilities is a testament to our investment in innovation, our commitment to technical excellence, and our vision of self-sufficiency. We are setting a new standard for aircraft maintenance on the continent.”
A full strip and paint is one of the most demanding procedures in aircraft maintenance, requiring the complete removal of all existing paint layers and exterior coatings before applying a new, meticulously applied livery. The process demands extreme precision to protect sensitive composite surfaces and ensure the aircraft’s aerodynamic integrity and weight specifications are maintained.
This achievement is more than a technical milestone; it is a powerful statement of progress. By developing this capability internally, Ethiopian Airlines reduces its dependence on overseas MRO providers, cuts operational costs, and creates high-value technical jobs locally. Furthermore, it positions Ethiopian Airlines MRO as a premier service center capable of attracting third-party work from other airlines across Africa and beyond, fostering economic and technological growth within the region.
The accomplishment reinforces Ethiopian Airlines’ role as a trailblazer in African aviation, consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible. It demonstrates a forward-looking commitment to building indigenous capacity, ensuring that the continent is not just a operator of advanced technology, but a master of it.
