Contributor - Middle East

Peter Shaw-Smith

Ethiopian trip support firm Krimson Aviation plans to set up an FBO, likely in East Africa, as it completes an investment round before the end of the year. The company&nbsp;intends to&nbsp;break&nbsp;ground on this new facility in January.

 


“It won’t be in Ethiopia,” Krimson founder and CEO&nbsp;Dawit Lemma&nbsp;told AIN. “We’re signing documents, and we’re investing. It takes six months to a year to build. In January, we’re hoping to finish the process of identifying a location, going ahead, and then starting the regulatory procedures.”

 


Ethiopia’s civil war&nbsp;has dragged on for two years, although hopes rose with the November&nbsp;2 signing of a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-civil-war.html">truce</a> between the two sides in Pretoria, South Africa.&nbsp;“I’d have to say that the last year has been a rollercoaster, a hurricane, and a tornado, all in one,” he said. "Good and bad, but progression, too."

 


And the emergence of the Ukraine crisis hot on the heels of Covid was causing huge problems. “Inflation is a major problem,” he said. “Fuel prices are a major problem. Interestingly enough, airplanes are still flying, but we definitely saw a dip in requests&nbsp;from April. Of course, in the natural summer months, there’s always a dip. As of September, we’re back to full speed ahead in terms of number of operations.

 


“To be perfectly honest, for us, for our business, conflict—and I hate to say this—generates business for Krimson. It increases the number of military operations—military flights, a lot of military cargo flights, delivery of goods—the humanitarian situation drives the scope of humanitarian operations.”

 


Meanwhile, Lemma said business aviation was changing in Africa&nbsp;as the continent shook off the Covid pandemic. “It’s actually doing well,” he said. “Africa is resilient.&nbsp;We just keep getting hit with one crisis after another and we just take it, to be honest.”

 


He regards the business today as a pan-African, rather than simply Ethiopian, concern. “We’re definitely pan-African,” he said. “We have crossed a threshold where we actually have an equal number of operations outside of Ethiopia, compared to inside the country.”

 


He said the company’s focus today is the Horn of Africa. “We do get ad hoc requests for random countries like Gabon or Liberia,” he said. “Our core market is the Horn of Africa.”

 


Krimson’s competencies and market strength lie in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan, and part of Sudan. It also has agents on the ground in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Juba, and Asmara. “There’s just a lot of growth happening,” he said. “Regardless of the conflict in Ethiopia, this region of Africa is probably the least developed&nbsp;compared to other areas. Development is exponential.”

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Krimson Aviation Plans To Break Ground on Business Aircraft FBO Terminal in Northern Africa

The warring parties reportedly called a truce in Ethiopia’s civil war on November 2.

Krimson Aviation Plans New FBO in Northern Africa

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The Hong Kong-based operator now has almost 50 business aircraft

China’s Sino Jet Expands Charter Fleet with Second G700

Jessica Reed

Program launches with HondaJet HA-420 and Bombardier Challenger 3500

Honda Aircraft Unit Backs Thrive Fractional Jet Program

Amy Wilder

Elite Jets, MaxAir keep names, add Priester co-brand

Priester Aviation Unifies Companies under One Brand

Program lets non-members compare pricing before booking

BlueSky Extends Pricing Access to Non-members

Hourly rates range from turboprops to VIP airliners

Paramount Business Jets Guide Details 2026 Charter Rates

Kerry Lynch

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

More In Charter & Fractional

China’s Sino Jet Expands Charter Fleet with Second G700

The Hong Kong-based operator now has almost 50 business aircraft

Honda Aircraft Unit Backs Thrive Fractional Jet Program

Program launches with HondaJet HA-420 and Bombardier Challenger 3500

Priester Aviation Unifies Companies under One Brand

Elite Jets, MaxAir keep names, add Priester co-brand

BlueSky Extends Pricing Access to Non-members

Program lets non-members compare pricing before booking

Paramount Business Jets Guide Details 2026 Charter Rates

Hourly rates range from turboprops to VIP airliners

ACA Forum Probes Broker Role in Fighting Illegal Charter

Brokers need to verify operations based on a standard

ACA Forum Explores Changing Role of Air Charter Brokers with AI

ACA is hosting its second U.S. forum as membership grows

FAI Grows Charter Fleet with Second Global 6000 Bizjet

Ultra-long-range jet is now available for worldwide charter

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN