Ethiopian Airlines has recorded a major maintenance, repair and overhaul milestone with the successful completion of Africa’s first full strip-and-paint programme on the Airbus A350-900. The achievement, carried out on two aircraft, marks a decisive expansion of Ethiopian Airlines’ in-house MRO capability and reinforces its long-term strategy of technical self-reliance. Therefore, the development positions Ethiopian Airlines as a continental leader in advanced composite aircraft painting.
The A350 strip-and-paint programme follows the recent introduction of full composite painting capability on the Boeing 787 fleet. However, the A350 project represents a more complex technical leap due to the aircraft’s extensive use of advanced composite materials. By executing the programme internally, Ethiopian Airlines has demonstrated the depth of its engineering competence while reducing dependence on offshore maintenance providers.
Ethiopian Airlines
Appreciating the accomplishment, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mesfin Tasew, said the project marked a significant step forward in the airline’s widebody composite structure paint capability. He explained that Ethiopian Airlines’ investment in world-class MRO infrastructure strengthens operational resilience and improves long-term cost efficiency. In addition, the development supports revenue generation through third-party maintenance services and enhances the airline’s global standing.
Beyond corporate prestige, the achievement reflects the maturity of Ethiopian Airlines’ maintenance ecosystem. Ethiopian MRO has provided aircraft maintenance services for nearly six decades, serving both the airline’s growing fleet and external customers across Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, the successful A350 strip-and-paint programme confirms that Ethiopian Airlines can now handle complex widebody refinishing tasks entirely in-house.
The airline currently maintains comprehensive aircraft painting and specialised multi-layer coating capabilities across its entire fleet. These capabilities cover both advanced composite and aluminium airframes, enabling Ethiopian Airlines to manage varied aircraft types without external support. Consequently, turnaround times are reduced, and fleet availability is improved, which directly supports operational reliability.
Ethiopian Airlines also deploys highly advanced application technologies within its modern paint shop and dedicated hangar. These include High-Volume Low-Pressure spraying and electrostatic systems, which improve coating precision while reducing material waste. Such systems are critical for composite aircraft like the A350, where surface integrity and paint uniformity directly affect performance and durability.
From a broader industry perspective, the breakthrough carries regional significance. African airlines have historically relied on overseas facilities for widebody composite aircraft painting. However, Ethiopian expanded capability changes that narrative by offering a viable, high-quality alternative within the continent. Therefore, the airline strengthens Africa’s aviation value chain while positioning itself as a preferred MRO partner.
As the airline continues to modernise its fleet and technical infrastructure, the A350 strip-and-paint milestone underscores a clear strategic intent. The airline is not only expanding route networks but also building industrial depth. In doing so, Ethiopian Airlines reinforces its reputation as Africa’s most technically advanced carrier and a growing force in global aviation maintenance.
