Written by Aaron Maasho | From Reuters

Ethiopian Airlines is in talks with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to purchase stakes in their carriers and manage them, its chief executive told Reuters.

Discussions with Kigali and Kinshasa follow similar deals with Malawi and South Sudan, part of efforts to become a global carrier and put the airline at the heart of travel in Africa.

Ethiopia’s state-owned airline is ranked the largest airline in Africa by revenue and profit by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the industry body representing 250 airlines that account for 84 percent of global air traffic.

“Right now, we have a technical agreement with Rwandair and we manage the technical maintenance of their fleet. We are going to expand that to a commercial and equity partnership,” Chief Executive Tewolde Gebremariam told Reuters on Tuesday.

“We are also in discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said in an interview, adding the firm was also looking at a opportunities in Uganda. He did not name carriers.

Ethiopian Airlines operates and manages Malawi Airlines after a deal signed in 2013 and has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Sudan to help set up a national carrier for a country which won independence in 2011.

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