Ethiopian Airlines set to receive $281 million despite US accusation in the Tigray war
Ethiopian Airlines is set to receive a whopping business loan of $281 million from US Export-import Bank as media reports suggest. The Addis Ababa-based airline has received a boost after the US Bank unanimously approved a $281 million loan on Thursday to Ethiopian Airlines Group to buy Boeing passenger and cargo airplanes. According to Addis
Ethiopian Airlines set to receive $281 million despite US accusation in the Tigray war
Ethiopian Airlines is set to receive a whopping business loan of $281 million from US Export-import Bank as media reports suggest.
The Addis Ababa-based airline has received a boost after the US Bank unanimously approved a $281 million loan on Thursday to Ethiopian Airlines Group to buy Boeing passenger and cargo airplanes.
According to Addis Ababa Standard, the financial institution announced that “these monies will finance the export of several Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The first of this fleet was delivered in September 2022 and the remaining aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of March 2023”.
US Embassy in Addis Ababa tweeted on Friday saying that, the partnership between Export-Import Bank and Ethiopian Airlines is another example of American and Ethiopian co-operation for shared prosperity.
The partnership between Export-Import Bank and Ethiopian Airlines is another example of American and Ethiopian cooperation for shared prosperity.https://t.co/KTxSNNa7r7
— U.S. Embassy Addis (@USEmbassyAddis) December 23, 2022
However, the approval comes as one US Congressman accused the East African airline of taking part in the Tigray.
It is reported that the national carrier aided the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces during the war which dragged on for two years.
“In a letter written to the president of the US EXIM bank, US Secretaries of State and Commerce, the three members of the congress Brad Sherman, Ilhan Omar, and James P. McGovern “peace process has not yet resulted in the kinds of full access, unfettered access and the massive scale-up of medical and health assistance that the people of Tigray need,” reports the website.
“The Ethiopian Government has still not restored full services to the whole Tigray region, saying there is no timeline for the restoration of internet, telecommunications, and banking that were cut off when the war began in November.”
In the letter, it is mentioned that the communique also accuses the loan recipient, Ethiopian Airlines, of having direct roles in the conflict saying that, “Ethiopian Airlines planes were used to transport arms between Addis Ababa and Eritrea, in a violation of international aviation law”, an allegation the flag carrier refutes.”
