About

Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest airline and is part of a group of large state-owned Ethiopian companies, known as the “Big Five”. As African’s most profitable airline, Ethiopian Airlines earns more than its rivals on the continent combined. Its expansion has been rapid, recently adding 13 new destinations to its existing list of 82 and nearly doubling its profits in the last financial year. This has been achieved due to the company’s self-sufficient approach in training aviation personnel through its aviation academy, its progressive culture that utilises strong leadership teams and its multi-hub strategy that makes use of Ethiopian’s efficient network of connectivity.

The legal team at Ethiopian Airlines is an embodiment of the company’s values, receiving praise for managing international commercial matters in a timely and efficient manner. The team has also been credited for its handling of both domestic and international court litigation cases and civil matters, as well as negotiating and executing complex cross-border transactions. The legal team is led by Genanaw Assefa, who acts as vice president, legal counsel and corporate secretariat. As the airline expands in terms of geography and size of fleet, Assefa and the legal team will become increasingly important for contract work, unique financing matters and employment law issues.