Ethiopian plans Star entry

Flight Global’s Chinese edition newsletter on 13FEB09 reported that Ethiopian Airlines is likely to apply for membership with the Star Alliance as early as the first quarter of 2010.

It has already cooperation with Star member Lufthansa, South African Airways, bmi, and soon-to-be member brussels airlines.

The airline is currently or soon to negotiating with other Star members for cooperation, including Singapore Airlines, THAI and UNITED. It is also in extensive cooperation talk with EgyptAir and should begin talks with Turkish Airlines.

Meanwhile, it is likely to order up to 10 aircraft this year – B787-9, A350XWB or 777-200LR, which is part of the airlines’ plan to grow its fleet from 23 to 70 by 2023: 23 737s, 17 787-8 (currently 15 -8 and 2 -9 but should convert the -9 to -8), 28 300-seater plus category aircraft.