STORY: Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Mesfin Tasew Bekele said the company expects its passenger business to recover to pre-pandemic levels in its financial year ending in June.

Africa's biggest carrier will ferry 12.7 million passengers during the year, he added, up from 8.6 million passengers in the previous financial year and 12.1 million before the global health crisis struck.

Mesfin attributed the forecast to the carrier's own expansion of new planes and destinations, and a peace deal signed last month to end a two-year conflict in the north of the country.

"At the same time increase the number of passengers we carry and cargo we transport but at the same time, as countries more open and relax restrictions it will allow the passenger traffic to grow."

Mesfin said any delays in re-opening of China could however curb the projections since it is a key market for both passengers and cargo.

Ethiopian fared much better than other African carriers during the global health crisis, thanks to its cargo business that was able to compensate for a steep drop in passenger traffic.

It is already looking beyond the health crisis with an expansion plan to double its fleet and network, boost annual revenue and passengers by 400% and 440% respectively, by 2035 - something Mesfin says is important.

"Unless we grow we can not be successful in our endeavors. That is why we are expanding our operation."