Geven-SkyTecno and Ethiopian Airlines have inaugurated a state-of-the-art facility for the manufacturing of insulation blankets for Boeing 737 MAX airplanes as part of a Boeing agreement between The Boeing Company, Geven-Skytecno and Ethiopian Airlines.
The new joint venture company of Geven-SkyTecno and Ethiopian Airlines, named ‘Ethiopian Sky Technologies’, is based in Addis Ababa with primary manufacturing facility at Bole Airport.
Ethiopian Airlines holds 51% and SkyTecno holds a 49% stake of the newly-established company. The parties, as per their commitment, are jointly manufacturing the products in Italy and Ethiopia as a supplier to The Boeing Company.
Geven-SkyTecno has been contributing its process technology proficiency, and manufacturing know-how to the joint venture. It is also responsible for speeding up the industrialization, qualification processes and training skills of the JV.
Ethiopian Airlines and SkyTecno invested in state-of-the-art blankets manufacturing equipment to provide unrivalled customer service and product access. The joint venture focuses on delivering tailor-made solutions for Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. Products are manufactured in a multicultural environment in synergy between the African and European continent, subject to strict quality control, in order to meet the most demanding expectations of the aircraft industry.
“We are very pleased to announce this joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines, with whom we are looking forward to working together with,” says Alberto Veneruso, Managing Director of Geven-SkyTecno.
“Our manufacturing excellence combined with our expertise in process technology, industrial efficiency and world-class distribution capabilities will provide our customers with best-in-class insulation solutions. Furthermore, Geven-SkyTecno provides the JV with a team of highly trained technical engineers with unparalleled experience meeting the demand for similar products from world airlines and OEM’s.”
For his part, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said: “We are glad to unveil a modern manufacturing facility of Ethiopian Sky Technologies at our home base, Addis Ababa. As part of our Vision to develop the aerospace manufacturing industry in Ethiopia, the partnership with Geven-SkyTecno takes our capability to the next level.
“As we have a very well established MRO capability with an excellent track record of providing aircraft maintenance we can leverage this capability and experience to further develop our aerospace manufacturing capability and eventually make it one of the key strategic business units of the airline. We are happy that we have gone into this tri-partite relationship with Geven-SkyTecno and Boeing and that we started manufacturing and exporting the aircraft thermo-acoustic insulation blankets for the 737 MAX. We are keen to expand the scope of activities to other aerospace products to the mutual benefit of all parties”.
Ethiopian Sky Technologies is manufacturing and delivering the aerospace products in accordance with the terms of the agreement and the stringent requirements of the aerospace Industry.
In addition to building the aerospace manufacturing capability of Ethiopian Airlines, the partnership also enhances Ethiopia’s manufacturing infrastructure and international trade connections.
Mr. Henock Lemma Nigatu is leading Ethiopian Sky Technologies PLC as Chief Executive Officer. With his 25 years of experience at Ethiopian Airlines, where he has served in managerial positions for most of this time, including serving as Manager of Group Alliances & Commercial Cooperation in his last assignment, Henock Lemma Nigatu has taken over the leadership of the joint venture company to foster and enhance the development of the new aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
About Geven
Geven is an aircraft seats and interiors supplier based in Naples, Italy. Reliability, dedication and professionalism make Geven an undisputed and renowned player in the circle of great leaders in the aircraft seating and interiors manufacturing industry. By constantly innovating, and refining engineering acumen and industrial progress, Geven continues to grow.
About Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-five plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 130 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-8, Freighter, Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft. Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Seven business units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services, Ethiopian Airports Services and Ethiopian Express Services (Domestic). Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the seven years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Featured image credited to Geven
