By Staff Writer
Nairobi, Kenya — A performance audit by Ethiopia’s Office of the Auditor General has revealed significant shortcomings in the management of airports operated by the Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG). The report found that the majority of the Group’s regional airports lack master plans, land-use frameworks, and property title deeds, raising concerns regarding infrastructure planning, aviation safety, and international regulatory compliance.
The audit, which excluded Bole International Airport, examined regional hubs and discovered that 22 airports lack master plans, while 15 operate without formal land-use plans. Facilities such as those in Arba Minch, Gambela, and Yabelo lack title deeds, creating legal ambiguities regarding the ownership of public aviation infrastructure.
Furthermore, safety compliance gaps were identified at airports in Dire Dawa, Mekelle, Bahir Dar, Gondar, and Kebri Dehar, where formal Airport Safety Management Systems (SMS) were found to be improperly implemented. Physical security and hazard vulnerabilities were also highlighted; Lalibela and Neqemte airports suffer from inadequate perimeter fencing, allowing stray animals to access runways. Additional operational hazards, including wildlife interference, construction debris, and livestock roaming near active airstrips, were documented at multiple locations.
Auditor General Meseret Damtie’s office emphasized that these deficiencies directly compromise aviation safety and sustainable development, noting that missing documentation violates mandates established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The findings also cautioned that construction delays and skipped preliminary planning studies introduce structural risks, such as poorly coordinated nearby roadways, waste disposal sites, and animal slaughterhouses located dangerously close to airport perimeters.
According to Addis Fortune, EAG executives, led by CEO Mesfin Tassew, disputed several aspects of the findings. While acknowledging certain gaps in safety tracking systems, management argued that corrective measures are underway, including safety manuals pending approval from the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and active procurement of perimeter fencing. Executives maintained that existing site blueprints adequately function as master plans and that property titles for newer regional stations will be secured incrementally as operations mature. Mesfin underscored that the Group’s primary mandate extends beyond commercial returns to encompass broad national development and expanding air transport accessibility across the country.
Aviation analysts cited by Addis Fortune also critiqued the audit for applying rigid regulatory yardsticks without factoring in the unique socio-economic role Ethiopian Airlines plays as a national carrier. Experts pointed out that the Group has historically driven growth by investing in unprofitably developmental routes—such as early expansions into West Africa—that eventually matured into economic lifelines.
The audit’s release coincides with a period of massive infrastructure scaling by EAG. The Group recently inaugurated its 25th domestic station at Debre Markos at a cost of 1.4 billion Birr and is advancing construction on the multi-billion-dollar Bishoftu International Airport, projected to handle up to 110 million passengers annually. While regulatory overseers insist that compliance and safety frameworks must remain non-negotiable, EAG leadership contends that its long-term strategic vision justifies current transitional gaps as it modernizes Ethiopia’s aviation ecosystem.
Auditor General audit highlights widespread master plan and safety gaps across Ethiopian Airlines Group airports, sparking debate over compliance versus national expansion.
__
Join our Telegram Channel: t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
Join the conversation. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @zborkena to get the latest Ethiopian news updates regularly. Subscribe to the YouTube channel. To share information or for submission, email info@borkena.com