Ethiopian Airlines’ latest A350 XWB flies relief goods to Ethiopia

May 05, 2017: Ethiopian Airlines, the German NGO humedicae.V, Aviation without Borders and the Airbus Foundation have joined forces to facilitate the transport of nine tonnes of humanitarian goods from Toulouse, France, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The airline’s newest A350 XWB was loaded with goods destined to provide relief to drought prone areas in the East African region.

The humanitarian cargo consisted of diarrhoeal disease kits, emergency food rations, interagency emergency health kits and clothing. The goods will be handed over to the Ethiopian Airlines Foundation, the Ethiopian Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs and the National Disaster Risk Management Commission for further distribution to refugee camps as well as health stations.

“We are honoured to be working with humedica, Aviation without Borders and the Airbus Foundation to perform this humanitarian flight. The acceptance of our latest A350 XWB is made more meaningful as we transport much needed relief goods to the drought affected areas in the region. Ethiopian Airlines will continue with its leadership role in fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities, focusing as much on sustainability and social responsibility as on pure business performance,” said Tewolde GebreMariam, Group chief executive officer, Ethiopian Airlines.  

“Whenever possible, we try to use delivery flights of new aircraft to our customers to ship medical or humanitarian donations to countries or regions in need,” said Fabrice Brégier, president Airbus Commercial Aircraft and member of the Airbus Foundation’s Board of Directors.