Plans for Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) to play a key role in expanding South Sudan’s aviation services have been revived under new economic cooperation talks between the two countries.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir met with Ethiopian Finance Minister and Special Envoy Ahmed Shide Mohammed in Juba on August 27, during which Ethiopian Airlines was proposed as a strategic partner to strengthen South Sudan’s aviation sector and boost regional connectivity, according to a statement from Kiir’s office.

"Air transport was also on the agenda, with Ethiopian Airlines proposed as a strategic partner in enhancing South Sudan’s aviation services," the statement said without providing further details.

Talks also covered the development of a trade and transport corridor linking South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, alongside joint infrastructure projects in roads, electricity, telecommunications, and banking.

Shide conveyed a message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, underscoring Addis Ababa’s commitment to deepening ties with Juba.

Last year, Ethiopian Airlines and South Sudan firmed a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish and manage a new national carrier. According to this, Ethiopian would be responsible for providing technical support, training, and management, including oversight of South Sudan’s transitioning airspace.

Talks on a joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines date back to 2014, when then-CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said the carrier planned to take a 49% stake, with the South Sudanese government holding 51%. In 2019, Juba earmarked SSP100 million South Sudanese pounds (USD768,000 at the time) for feasibility studies on the project, then called South Sudan Airways (Juba).

The move would revive years of stalled efforts by South Sudan to launch a flag carrier and would also further strengthen Ethiopian’s strategy of building joint-venture airlines across Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines serves Juba at least twice daily from Addis Ababa International with a B737-700. This makes it by far the most significant legacy hub carrier connecting the South Sudanese capital, as Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, and EgyptAir all fly less than daily to the city.