Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest airline, signed a purchase agreement for two new Twin Otter Classic 2025-G aircraft with De Havilland Canada (DHC) at the 300 Paris Air Show. Announced on June 17, 2025, the agreement marks the introduction of this aircraft type into the Ethiopian airline's fleet, supporting the company's plans to better connect communities in diverse and remote regions of Ethiopia and East Africa.
The Twin Otter Classic 300-G, the latest evolution of the Twin Otter family, is known for its outstanding short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance, rugged reliability, and modern avionics. These features make the aircraft ideal for regional operations, particularly in areas with challenging terrain and limited infrastructure.
The Twin Otter Classic 300-G: A versatile workhorse for difficult terrain
The De Havilland Canada Twin Otter has a long and successful history as one of the world's most reliable short takeoff and landing aircraft. Since its introduction in the 1960s, it has proven itself in a wide variety of demanding environments, from Arctic regions to deserts and mountains. The new Classic 300-G version is the latest iteration of this proven model and incorporates modern improvements without compromising the aircraft's core strengths.
Ryan DeBrusk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at De Havilland Canada, expressed his delight at the deal: "We are honored and excited to welcome Ethiopian Airlines to the Twin Otter Classic 300-G customer family and to see the Twin Otter once again fly in Ethiopian Airlines' colors." He also emphasized that Ethiopian Airlines enjoys a long-standing reputation for excellence in aviation and that their selection of the 300-G demonstrates their confidence in the aircraft's capabilities to support regional connectivity, tourism, and development missions.
The Twin Otter Classic 300-G is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft known for its ability to take off and land on short, unpaved runways. This is especially important in regions where infrastructure is limited and paved runways are rare. The aircraft's robustness ensures operation in adverse conditions, and its modern avionics improve flight safety and efficiency. This combination of features makes it an ideal aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines' scheduled operations in remote areas.
Ethiopian Airlines: Connectivity for Ethiopia and East Africa
Ethiopian Airlines' decision to add the Twin Otter Classic 300-G to its fleet is a strategic step to improve connectivity in Ethiopia and the wider East African region. Ethiopia, with its diverse geography ranging from towering mountains to vast lowlands, presents unique challenges for air transportation. The Twin Otter's ability to operate on challenging runways will enable Ethiopian Airlines to reach remote communities that were previously difficult to access.
Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, explained the choice: "We selected the 300-G because of its proven performance in challenging environments and its modern enhancements that align with our operational objectives." He added that the aircraft will be configured with additional equipment for a variety of missions, including air ambulance services, airport calibration flights, and charter services. This underscores the aircraft's versatility and its importance to various public services.
The Twin Otter can be flexibly operated in passenger and cargo configurations, further enhancing its utility for humanitarian, medical, and commercial operations. This is especially important in regions where transporting goods and personnel is often challenging. By providing air ambulance services, Ethiopian Airlines can make a significant contribution to healthcare in remote areas by enabling the rapid transport of patients and medical personnel. Airport calibration flights are critical for the safety and precision of navigation at airports, especially smaller regional airports that may not have the same infrastructure as international hubs.
The role of Ethiopian Airlines in African airspace
Ethiopian Airlines has developed into one of Africa's leading airlines over the past decades, playing a key role in continental and international air traffic. The airline is headquartered in Addis Ababa and operates an extensive route network covering destinations in Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America. Its expansion strategy focuses not only on expanding international connections but also on strengthening regional connectivity.
Investing in aircraft like the Twin Otter Classic 300-G is an integral part of this regional strategy. It enables Ethiopian Airlines to bridge the major cities and rural areas of Ethiopia and neighboring countries. This not only promotes tourism in hard-to-reach regions but also supports economic development and trade by facilitating the transport of goods and travel. The robustness of the Twin Otter is a crucial factor in this, as the infrastructure in many of these areas is still underdeveloped.
Ethiopian Airlines is known for its modern fleet and commitment to operational excellence. The introduction of the Twin Otter 300-G complements the existing aircraft types in its fleet, which primarily consists of larger jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737, 767, 777, 787, and Airbus A350. This fleet diversification will enable the airline to efficiently serve short-, medium-, and long-haul routes and cater to the specific needs of different markets. The Twin Otter will serve as a "feeder" aircraft, transporting passengers and cargo from smaller regional airports to the larger hubs, where they can connect to international flights.
De Havilland Canada: A legacy of robustness and versatility
De Havilland Canada (DHC) has a long and distinguished history of developing and producing aircraft optimized for operation in challenging conditions. Originally a subsidiary of British aircraft manufacturer de Havilland, the company specializes in robust and versatile aircraft used in bush aviation and regional air transport operations around the world.
The Twin Otter, originally known as the DHC-6 Twin Otter, is one of the company's most iconic aircraft and is synonymous with short takeoff and landing performance. Its ability to land on almost any surface—be it snow, water (with floats), or dirt runways—has made it an indispensable tool for transportation in remote areas. With the development of the Classic 300-G version, DHC has continued this legacy, equipping the aircraft with modern technology to meet today's demands for safety and efficiency.
The purchase agreement with Ethiopian Airlines is a significant achievement for De Havilland Canada and underscores the continued relevance of the Twin Otter in a changing aviation market. Despite the emergence of more modern regional jets, the Twin Otter remains a preferred choice for specific niche markets and demanding operations due to its unique STOL capabilities and robustness. The reinstatement of the Twin Otter into the fleet of Ethiopian Airlines, such a prominent operator, is a strong testament to the enduring capability and value of this iconic aircraft.
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