Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, has been recognized as ‘Airline Executive of the Year’ at the annual Global Aviation Awards for Excellence organized by Centre for Aviation (CAPA) in Malta.

Mr Tewolde won the title for his commendable individual influence on the aviation industry, demonstrating outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of Ethiopian Airlines and the aviation industry at large.

A statement from the Airline quoted Mr Tewolde as saying, “I am honoured to have received the award and I sincerely thank CAPA for the recognition."

He said Management and Staff at Ethiopian have achieved greater milestones as one family and "l want to dedicate this award to my colleagues: more than 16,000 brave men and women around the world, who always challenge themselves to soar higher with the mind-set that every step they take can become new history and milestone in today’s 21st-century aviation business.”

Emeritus Peter Harbison, CAPA Chairman, said: “Tewolde GebreMariam has become a giant in African aviation over the past decades."

He said the Group CEO has guided a marginal airline into becoming a major global force, with a modern fleet and a world-class operation."

He said this past year, he has been most strenuously challenged following the MAX accident and emerges with an even stronger reputation.

"We are proud to present him with this award and look forward to him continuing to lead the airline to even greater heights," he added.

The CAPA Chairman said having served Ethiopian Airlines in different capacities for decades, Mr Tewolde took the helm of Africa’s leading flag-carrier as Group CEO in January 2011.

He said, "he has received a number of prestigious accolades in the aviation industry for his outstanding leadership that propelled Ethiopian to the top of Africa’s aviation."

Regarded as the pre-eminent awards for strategic excellence in aviation, CAPA first established the awards in 2003 to recognize successful airlines and airports based in the Asia Pacific region.

The awards later expanded to the global stage in 2012 to acknowledge aviation excellence worldwide.

Mr Tewolde has also been listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans in 2019 by New African Magazine this week.