By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Musayeroh Barrie, has joined officials of Ethiopian Airlines in Freetown to commemorate the airline’s 80th anniversary, describing the milestone as a powerful symbol of resilience, consistency and Africa’s growing aviation legacy.
The event, held at the Ethiopian Airlines office in Freetown on Wednesday 8 April 2026, formed part of a wider continental celebration marking eight decades since the airline launched its first scheduled international service in April 1946. From its humble beginnings with five Douglas C-47 aircraft flying the Cairo route via Asmara, Ethiopian Airlines has grown into Africa’s largest and most influential aviation group.
Speaking during the anniversary celebration, SLCAA Director General Musayeroh Barrie said Sierra Leone was proud to be associated with such a historic moment in African aviation.
She noted that it was particularly significant for Sierra Leone to be part of the celebration, expressing optimism that Ethiopian Airlines would continue to strengthen and expand its footprint in the country for many decades to come.
Musayeroh Barrie emphasized that the Government of Sierra Leone has remained fully supportive of the airline’s operations, creating an enabling environment for the carrier to thrive and deepen regional and international connectivity through Freetown.
“It is a momentous time and we are truly thrilled as the Civil Aviation Authority and as a Government to be part of this occasion,” she stated, while congratulating the airline on reaching the landmark anniversary and wishing it continued success.
In a further reflection on the significance of the celebration, the SLCAA Director General described Ethiopian Airlines’ 80-year journey as “a powerful symbol of consistency, resilience and legacy,” adding that Sierra Leone remains optimistic about the airline’s sustained growth and expanded services in the country.
Musayeroh Barrie also used the occasion to highlight the broader inspiration that leadership milestones within Sierra Leone’s aviation sector now represent for young women and girls across the country.
She expressed gratitude to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for what she described as visionary leadership in opening doors for women in strategic institutions, noting that the appointment of the first female and youngest Director General of the SLCAA now allows young girls to aspire to similar heights within the aviation industry and beyond.
The Freetown celebration mirrored the main anniversary launch in Addis Ababa, where Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, officially kicked off a series of events at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel to mark the historic milestone.
Describing the anniversary as a proud moment for both the airline and the entire African aviation industry, Mesfin Tasew said Ethiopian Airlines’ achievements over the last eight decades have been built on hard work, strategic partnerships and an unwavering Pan-African vision that continues to bridge nations, connect economies and strengthen trade links across the globe.
Today, Ethiopian Airlines operates one of the continent’s most modern fleets, including Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350 variants and De Havilland Q400 aircraft, serving more than 160 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.
The airline continues to enjoy global acclaim, including repeated recognition as Africa’s best carrier, while pursuing its ambitious Vision 2035 strategy aimed at positioning the group among the world’s top 20 most competitive aviation institutions.
As part of that long-term strategy, the airline is also deepening its multi-hub African expansion model through partnerships and joint ventures in Togo, Malawi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The anniversary celebrations are expected to continue in the coming days with a series of events honoring Ethiopian Airlines’ remarkable legacy as a true African success story and its future ambitions in global aviation.
This latest commemoration in Freetown also underscores the growing partnership between Sierra Leone’s aviation authorities and Ethiopian Airlines, with stakeholders expressing confidence that the relationship will continue to boost tourism, commerce and international connectivity for the country.
