Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier, has signed a new purchase agreement with De Havilland Canada for the acquisition of two Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft, reinforcing its strategic focus on enhancing domestic and regional connectivity.
The announcement was made Thursday during a formal signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew praised the versatility and reliability of the aircraft, highlighting its role in expanding the airline’s operations to remote and underserved regions.
“We are pleased to once again integrate the upgraded version of the De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300G Twin Otter aircraft into our fleet,” Tasew stated, noting the aircraft’s ability to perform a variety of specialized missions, including medical evacuations, airfield calibration, and on-demand charter services.
The Twin Otter 300-G, an upgraded version of the iconic STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, is renowned for its rugged design, making it capable of landing on unpaved or short airstrips—a critical asset for Ethiopia’s diverse terrain and isolated communities.
This order marks the first time the Twin Otter 300-G variant will be operated by Ethiopian Airlines, underscoring the national carrier’s ambition to enhance its in-country air mobility and support the development of tourism and essential services in less accessible regions.
Currently, the airline operates 22 domestic routes with a fleet of Dash 8-400 turboprops and has laid out plans for aviation infrastructure investments to complement its expanding domestic footprint.
Ethiopian Airlines, already a global aviation powerhouse, is reaffirming its commitment to regional inclusion by linking Ethiopia’s most remote areas to its broader network, ensuring that economic growth, emergency services, and tourism opportunities reach every corner of the country
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