The first privately operated scheduled flight service in Ethiopia has been commenced by Trans National Airways (TNA). The flights are set to be done from Addis Ababa International Bole Airport to three selected destinations.

The three destinations that have been selected are Bahir Dar, Gonder and Humera. Flights are going to be carried out by Canadian made aircrafts, Bombardier Dash 8-Q200.

Even if TNA, member of MIDROC Ethiopia Technology Group, was established a decade ago its activities were limited to chartered flight service. This was because of the legal regime that allowed the private sector to engage in the scheduled flight service with only 20 seats capacity.

Nonetheless, the amended law allowed private airlines to operate with a capacity of 50 seats. It was following this TNA launched the current service, using the Canadian aircrafts that has the capacity of 37 seats.

MIDROC Ethiopia’s CEO, Dr. Arega Yerdaw, commented on the development saying the company will expand its service with more aircrafts after evaluating the performance of these flights.

He furthered, “We embarked this business because we have to be a pioneer to involve in such kind of new business in the country”.

According to Capital, in the past ten years TNA has been operating its aircrafts with long term lease contracts with companies that are mainly engaged in the mining sector in other African countries. Out of these African countries some are Rwanda, Sudan and Libya.

Source: Capital