Ethiopian Airlines has reached a major technical milestone after completing Africa’s first full strip-and-paint programme on two Airbus A350-900 aircraft at its home base in Addis Ababa.
The work was carried out by the airline’s maintenance division, Ethiopian MRO, and marks a significant step forward for aircraft engineering on the continent. It follows the airline’s successful rollout of similar full strip-and-paint capability on its Boeing 787 fleet earlier this year.
The Airbus A350 is one of the most advanced commercial aircraft in service today, built largely from composite materials such as carbon fibre. While lighter and more fuel-efficient than traditional aluminium aircraft, composites present complex challenges for maintenance and painting. Unlike metal airframes, composite structures require specialised techniques to ensure paint adhesion and long-term durability.
The process is further complicated by the A350’s embedded metallic mesh, which sits beneath the paint layer and provides lightning protection. Carbon fibre does not conduct electricity in the same way as aluminium, making precision and expertise essential during repainting.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Mesfin Tasew said the achievement reflects the airline’s long-term investment in technical self-reliance.
“This project shows our commitment to building world-class maintenance capabilities,” he said. “It strengthens our operational resilience, improves efficiency and positions Ethiopian Airlines more strongly on the global stage.”
Beyond supporting its own fleet, the new capability allows Ethiopian MRO to offer advanced painting services to third-party airlines across Africa and the Middle East, creating an additional revenue stream.
Ethiopian MRO now has full in-house strip-and-paint capacity for its entire fleet, covering both composite and aluminium aircraft. The facility uses advanced application methods, including high-volume low-pressure spraying and electrostatic systems, which help ensure even coverage and long-lasting results on aircraft that undergo constant pressurisation cycles.
The milestone follows major investment in the airline’s maintenance infrastructure. In July 2024, Ethiopian Airlines opened three new facilities at Addis Ababa’s airport, with total investment exceeding US$150 million. These include a two-bay widebody hangar, a modern component workshop and a central warehouse.
The new workshop alone added more than 170 technical capabilities, supporting components such as landing gear, avionics and generators for aircraft including the Boeing 737 and De Havilland Q400.
Ethiopian MRO employs more than 3,000 technical staff and operates six main hangars at its Addis Ababa hub. With nearly 60 years of experience, it provides maintenance services to airlines across Africa and the Middle East, alongside supporting Ethiopian Airlines’ own growing fleet.
The expansion aligns with the airline’s long-term “Vision 2035” strategy, which aims to position Ethiopian Airlines among the world’s top 20 aviation groups. Strengthening maintenance, repair and overhaul services is a central pillar of that ambition.
As air travel across Africa continues to grow, Ethiopian Airlines’ investment in advanced engineering capabilities is helping to position the carrier as the continent’s leading aviation maintenance hub, with the capacity to support the most modern aircraft flying today.
