Ethiopian Airlines Group has renewed the term of Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew for another year, extending his stay in the position to August 7, 2027 as the airline enters the next phase of its multi-decade growth plan.
The decision puts to rest speculation about Tasew’s retirement and is the third extension he has received since becoming eligible for retirement. Ethiopia’s civil service retirement system generally sees government workers retire at age 60.
Tasew reached that age in 2023 but Ethiopian Airlines’ board has repeatedly decided to keep him in the job citing the value of his experience as the carrier continues to grow at a rapid pace.
He received an initial two-year extension, then a one-year extension in 2025. The latest decision now keeps him at the helm until August 2027.
Four decades with Ethiopian Airlines
Tasew is the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines since March 2022, succeeding former Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam who recently became CEO and Managing Director of Air India.
His connections with the airline go back much further. Tasew was with Ethiopian Airlines since 1984 and spent more than 10 years as the carrier’s Chief Operating Officer before becoming CEO.
He has had a career of about four decades in various operational and managerial positions which have given him an excellent knowledge of the airline’s operations and long term development.
The board’s latest move follows a particularly strong financial year for the group.
Best financial result
Ethiopian Airlines said it had a record revenue of $9.1 billion for the fiscal year 2025/26, up 20% from the previous year.
The results were achieved despite higher operating costs driven by geopolitical disruptions and broader pressures affecting the global aviation industry.
Passenger traffic also saw growth continue. The airline carried 20.7 million passengers in the fiscal year, up 10% year-on-year.
Cargo operations did even better, with freight volumes up 16 per cent to 897,000 metric tons. The performance further confirms Ethiopian Airlines’ place among the top air cargo operators in Africa.
The board’s decision to extend Tasew’s tenure comes as the airline posts strong financial results, passenger growth and expanding cargo volumes.
Vision 2035 fuels next phase of growth
Tasew will now take the reins of the next phase of Ethiopian Airlines’ Vision 2035 strategy, one of the most ambitious long term growth plans in the aviation industry.”
The road map aims for an annual revenue of US$25 billion and passenger traffic of 67 million travelers.
The airline continues to grow its fleet and network to support these goals. Ethiopian Airlines has a fleet of 147 aircraft, with an additional 117 aircraft on order.
The growth is expected to support continued growth across passenger services, air cargo and maintenance operations over the next decade.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tasew will remain in charge until August 2027, and the extension gives the carrier continuity of leadership as it seeks to scale its operations and get closer to the targets set out under Vision 2035.
