Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing Complete 2026 Youth Aviation Career Development Program

Ethiopia – Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing have successfully concluded the fourth edition of their STEM School programme on 21 August 2026, delivering over 300 hours of immersive aviation and engineering education to 28 grade 11 students (half of whom were young women) at Ethiopian Aviation University from 13 July to 21 August 2026. The programme reaches into a critical demographic pipeline for African aviation workforce development — with Boeing projecting Africa will need approximately 75,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years — and reinforces Ethiopian Airlines' central role as one of Africa's largest aviation talent development providers, complementing the airline's operational scale (nearly 5,000 pilots and 18,000 cabin crew) and its Vision 2035 strategy to become one of the top 20 most competitive aviation groups globally.

• Curriculum blends digital skills (coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality) with soft skills (teamwork, communication, problem-solving), combined with rigorous classroom instruction, internships, mentorship, and field visits.
• Field visits included Ethiopian Airlines' cargo facility, Ethiopian Airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, Ethiopian Aviation University facilities, the National Palace Museum, the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, and the Ethiopia Science Museum.
• The Ethiopia Science Museum features a permanent aerospace exhibit including a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight simulator, a Starliner spacecraft replica, and detailed models of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the International Space Station's Cupola module.
• The STEM School has run annually since 2023 and has empowered more than 100 Ethiopian students in total, including 28 in 2026.
• The programme is coordinated with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education for transparent selection and alignment with national priorities in science and technology education.
• Over the last ten years, Boeing has invested $14.5 million in partnerships with universities and non-profits in Africa; more than 58,500 people have participated in Boeing-supported STEM and workforce development programs across the continent over the last five years.

Statements

• "Working on youth education is a direct investment in Ethiopia's future. This initiative prepares tomorrow's leaders and creative thinkers by equipping them with the essential skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We are honored to see these talented young people succeed, and we are confident that they will play a vital role in shaping industries. We also thank Boeing for partnering with Ethiopian Airlines on such important initiatives," said Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.
• "At a time when Africa will need an estimated 75,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years, Ethiopia's rapid expansion of fleet, network and infrastructure is setting the pace. Through our STEM School with Ethiopian Airlines, we are building a connected community of future leaders ready to write the next chapter of aviation growth in Ethiopia and across the continent," said Henok Teferra Shawl, Boeing Managing Director for Africa.
• "We observed how airplanes are maintained, undergo multiple inspections, and how technicians take care of them," said Yoftahe Belete, 18-year-old STEM School student.

About Ethiopian Airlines Group
Ethiopian Airlines Group is Africa's largest airline group, operating flights to more than 160 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents, with a fleet of 178 aircraft comprised of Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900, A350-1000, and De Havilland Q400 aircraft.

Source: Boeing Africa