Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing carrier in Africa, said it’s planning to add a hub in the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure transfer traffic amid growing competition from Middle Eastern operators.

“We’re planning to cover the continent,” Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Tewolde GebreMariam said in an interview, where he was attending the International Air Transport Association annual meeting.

“That’s becoming more urgent as demand attracts competition from the Gulf. But we think Africans will use African airlines of they can.”

Ethiopian Airlines established its Togo hub from 2008 through ASKY Airlines, controlled via a 40 percent stake and a five-year management contract.

Tewolde told the gathering of airline executives in South African carriers should be seeking a 50 percent share of the continent’s international traffic, compared to the 18 percent they currently control.

Source: Business Insider