AviaDev, Africa’s premier aviation route development event, has named Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, as the 2025 recipient of the Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to African aviation and route development. This prestigious award, voted on by AviaDev’s advisory board and named after industry luminary Ato Girma Wake, celebrates leaders who have profoundly shaped the continent’s aviation landscape. Tasew’s recognition underscores his pivotal role in transforming Ethiopian Airlines into a global aviation powerhouse and advancing connectivity across Africa.
A Storied Career Driving African Aviation
Mesfin Tasew’s four-decade career at Ethiopian Airlines, which began in 1984, reflects a legacy of leadership and innovation. Starting in various technical and operational roles, Tasew rose to Chief Operating Officer (2010–2021) and briefly served as CEO of ASKY Airlines before taking the helm as Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines in March 2022. Under his leadership, the airline has expanded its fleet, network, and strategic partnerships, reinforcing its position as Africa’s leading carrier. In 2024 alone, Ethiopian Airlines was crowned “Best African Airline” for the seventh consecutive year at the Skytrax Awards and secured the Business Traveller Award for the fifth year running, a testament to Tasew’s focus on operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Tasew’s strategic vision has driven Ethiopian Airlines’ ambitious “Vision 2035” plan, aiming to nearly double its fleet by 2035 with orders for aircraft like the Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777X. The airline recently reported $5.6 billion in revenue for the first nine months of the 2024–2025 fiscal year, an 8% increase year-on-year, while serving 14.5 million passengers, up 13%. These achievements highlight Tasew’s ability to navigate high operational costs and currency shortages, challenges that plague African carriers, as noted in IATA’s 2025 outlook, which projects a modest $0.2 billion profit for African airlines with a 1.1% net margin.
Named after Ato Girma Wake, a revered figure in African aviation and AviaDev’s patron, the award recognizes individuals who have made transformative contributions to the industry. Previous recipients include João Pó Jorge (2024), Rodger Foster of Airlink (2023), and Sanjeev Gadhia of Astral Aviation (2022), all of whom have driven connectivity
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