Ethiopian Airlines has reported an Eight percent increase in annual revenue to 7.6 billion US dollars for the 2024/25 fiscal year, driven by growth in passenger traffic and expanded international operations, despite mounting operational and geopolitical pressures.

The Addis Ababa-based flag carrier, the largest in Africa by fleet size and passenger volume, said it transported 19 million passengers over the year, up from 17.1 million in the previous period. International routes accounted for 15.2 million passengers, while cargo volumes rose four percent to 785,323 tonnes.

Chief executive Mesfin Tassew attributed the results to sustained post-pandemic demand recovery and continued network expansion, while warning that external shocks continued to affect operations.

“We faced serious global and regional challenges, including the conflicts in the Middle East, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ukraine,” Mesfin said.

He noted that operations were also disrupted by bird strikes and adverse weather conditions, particularly at Bole International Airport, the airline’s main hub. “Some aircraft were forced to divert to neighbouring countries due to poor visibility,” he said. “We are planning to integrate advanced systems to better manage such disruptions.”

The airline also cited a global shortage of aircraft engines and maintenance capacity—issues Mesfin described as lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We expect the engine supply situation to improve by next year,” he added.