The Zambian government will take a 55% majority share in a joint venture with Ethiopian, which will have the remaining shareholding. The investment follows others made by Ethiopian, which has a 49% stake in Malawian Airlines and a 40% investment in Togo’s Asky Airlines.
Ethiopian has also attempted to seal a deal to manage Nigeria’s Arik Air, but halted negotiations in late December following “legal and financial complications”.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian has also been shortlisted by Ghana as one of three potential partners – among them Air Mauritius and Ghana’s own Africa World Airlines – to relaunch its national carrier.
