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National Airways plc, is to introduce charter helicopter services in Ethiopia. The helicopter imported by the air service will be the first private and commercial helicopter charter in Ethiopia. 

The company imported an AS350 helicopter according to Captain Abera Lemi owner of National Airways. The air service hopes to acquire more helicopters in the future he said.

Ethiopian Billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Hussein al Amoudi took over 80% of of Near East Financial Corporation which owns the Paul Ries group. The Paul Ries group is made up of Paul Ries and Sons in Ethiopia and Savon et Ries in Djibouti.

The Near East financial Corporation is a holding company based in Switzerland.

Business in the Paul Ries group companies in Ethiopia and Djibouti will continue as usual according to Daniel Le Roux the new Chief Executive of Near East Financial Corporation currently based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, sold five Fokker 50 aircraft to Fortran Aviation Limited a Singaporean company.

The Fokker 50 aircraft were sold in the continued efforts to modernize the airlines said Tewolde Gebremariam Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.

The Fokker 50s will be operated by a new airline, Pacific Royale, explained Tewolde. The first Fokker was to be delivered by the end of December according to Tewolde.

The Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul unit of Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia's flag carrier, has received approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The Approval Certificate, EASA Part 145, was granted to the maintenance division of Ethiopian Airlines on the 21st of November. 

The approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency allows the MRO division of Ethiopian Airlines to repair the airplanes and aircraft components of European Union member country registered airlines. The airline is also authorized to issue EASA Airworthiness Certificates.