| Abstract: | A natural situation such as this COVID-19 health crisis is a real phenomenon and has destroyed many organizations, livelihoods, and commercial projects in many countries across the globe. However, some multilateral and continental companies and individual business practitioners have adopted key strategies especially in terms of risk management and crisis mitigation measures to overcome the difficulties presented by these crises and remain sustainable.
For seventy-five (75) years now and still counting, Ethiopian Airlines has recorded great success and survived very few crisis as a company. This is due to what the student researcher will characterize as visionary and far-sighted leadership. This study has endeavored to capture and document some of the company’s success strategies used through effective leadership practices and functional communication; while utilizing comprehensive risk management plus an effective crisis response measure for this global health crisis. Other leaders in the aviation/travel industry in African, can take interest in learning from the ET Group’s experience to save their institutions and survive any turbulence during and after the crisis. A fundamental finding from the study revealed that the Strategic Business Plan of Ethiopian Airlines calls for the establishment of “Multi-Purpose-Business Units” as a key principle of its vision 2025. This is seen in how the company has diversified its operations into tourism, hospitality, MRO and Aviation trainings in addition to the original passenger and cargo services it offers as an airline.
The student researcher believes these findings will serve as lessons to protect investments, sustain employment and save the livelihoods of many employees in the hospitality, tourism and other air travel related services in Africa and beyond. |
