Africa's largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines has signed a contract to purchase two new Twin Otter Classic 2025-G aircraft along with De Havilland Canada (DHC) at the 300 Paris Air Show. The agreement, announced on June 17, 2025, illustrates the introduction of this aircraft type into the fleet of Ethiopian airlines, which supports the company's plans to better connect diverse regions and remote communities in Ethiopia and East Africa.
The Twin Otter Classic 300-G is the latest evolution of the Twin Otter family, known for its outstanding short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance, rugged reliability and modern avionics. These features make them ideal for local operation, especially in areas with challenging terrain and limited infrastructure.
Twin Otter Classic 300-G: A versatile main force for difficult terrain
The De Havilland Canada Twin Otter has a long and successful history as one of the most reliable short takeoff and landing aircraft in the world. Since its introduction in the 1960s, it has proven itself in a range of harsh environments, from the Arctic to the deserts and mountains. The new Classic 300-G version is the latest iteration of this proven model, incorporating the latest improvements without compromising the aircraft's core strength.
Ryan Debrusk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at De Havilland Canada, expressed his delight in the deal. He also emphasized that Ethiopian airlines enjoy a long-standing reputation for aviation excellence, and that the 300-G choice demonstrates confidence in the aircraft's ability to support regional ties, 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 areas where infrastructure is limited and paved runways are rare. The robustness of the aircraft ensures operation in disadvantaged situations, and its latest avionics improve flight safety and efficiency. This combination of features makes it the perfect aircraft for remote Ethiopian Airlines' planned operation.
Ethiopian Airlines: Connectivity between 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 between Ethiopia and the wider East Africa region. Ethiopia has a diverse range of geography ranging from towering mountains to vast lowlands, presenting unique challenges for air transport. Twin Otter's ability to operate on the challenging runways allows Ethiopian airlines to reach remote communities previously difficult to access.
Mesfin Tasew, group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said, “We chose the 300-G for proven performance in a challenging environment and the latest enhancements that align with operational goals.” He added that the aircraft will consist of additional equipment for a variety of missions, including ambulance services, airport calibration flights, and charter services. This underscores the diversity of aircraft and its importance to various public services.
Twin otters can operate with flexibility in passenger and cargo configurations, further enhancing the usefulness of humanitarian, medical and commercial operations. This is especially important in areas where transporting goods and personnel is often difficult. By providing ambulance services, Ethiopian airlines can make a significant contribution to remote healthcare by enabling rapid transportation for patients and healthcare professionals. Airport calibration flights are important for airport navigation safety and accuracy, especially at small regional airports that may not have the same infrastructure as international hubs.
The role of Ethiopian Airlines in Africa's airspace
Ethiopian Airlines has been one of Africa's leading airlines over the past decades, playing an important role in continental and international air traffic. The airline is headquartered in Addis Ababa and operates an extensive network of routes covering destinations in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. Its expansion strategy focuses not only on expanding international connections, but also on strengthening regional connections.
Investing in aircraft like the Twin Otter Classic 300-G is an integral part of this regional strategy. Ethiopian airlines can bridge major cities and rural areas of Ethiopia and neighboring countries. This not only promotes tourism in hard-to-reach areas, but also supports economic development and trade by promoting the transport of goods and travel. The robustness of twin otters is an important 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. It mainly consists of large jets such as the Boeing 737, 767, 777, 787 and Airbus A350. This diversification of fleets allows airlines to efficiently serve short-term, medium- and long-distance routes and meet the specific needs of various markets. Twin otters act as “feeder” aircraft, allowing them to transport passengers and cargo from small regional airports to large hubs and connect to international flights.
De Havilland Canada: A legacy of robustness and versatility
De Havilland Canada (DHC) has a long, distinctive history of developing and producing aircraft optimized for operation in difficult situations. Originally a subsidiary of British aircraft manufacturer De Havilland, the company specializes in robust, versatile aircraft used in Bush Airlines and local air transport operations around the world.
Originally known as the DHC-6 Twin Otter, the Twin Otter is one of the company's most iconic aircraft, synonymous with short takeoff and landing performances. The ability to land on almost any surface, including snow, water (with float), or dirt runways, has become an essential tool for remote transport. With the development of the classic 300-G version, DHC continues this legacy and equips the aircraft with the latest technology to meet today's demands for safety and efficiency today.
The purchase agreement with Ethiopian Airlines is a key achievement for Canada's DeHavilland, highlighting the continued relevance of twin-otter in the changing aviation market. Despite the advent of jets in more modern regions, twin otters remain an option that is prioritized for certain niche markets and demanding operations due to their distinctive STOL capabilities and robustness. The twin otter's recovery to the fleet of such a well-known operator, the Ethiopian Airlines, is a strong testament to the lasting capabilities and value of this iconic aircraft.
