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Ethiopian Airlines Expands Digital Reach with Nucore Technologies Alliance Ethiopian Airlines Expands Digital Reach with Nucore Technologies Alliance

Ethiopian Airlines Group has reinforced its position at the forefront of African aviation by entering a strategic partnership with Nucore Technologies, aimed at significantly enhancing the airline’s digital distribution and back-office operations. This move is in line with the carrier’s ongoing commitment to digital transformation, reflecting the broader shift towards modern, technology-driven airline retailing across the continent.

The new agreement positions business-to-business (B2B) distribution as a central pillar of Ethiopian Airlines’ growth strategy. By leveraging advanced digital tools and adhering to global industry standards, the airline is seeking to elevate its offering for partners and tap into new revenue streams. The collaboration ensures that Ethiopian’s partners will gain enriched access to the airline’s direct content through NDC-enabled distribution, a major step towards providing more dynamic and customizable travel solutions.

With this partnership, Ethiopian Airlines is investing in enhanced data transparency, integration, reporting, and analytics capabilities. These features are designed to support scalability and future-proof the airline’s operations as demand for seamless digital experiences continues to grow in Africa and beyond. The upgraded digital infrastructure ensures that partners can access a full suite of products—ranging from airfares to ancillary services and hotel packages—delivered through a single, streamlined platform.

Central to this collaboration is the sophisticated Agency Portal operated by Ethiopian Airlines. Currently, the portal connects to over 2,000 active customers across more than 100 stations globally. With round-the-clock support from dedicated commercial and technical teams, the platform has become a vital hub for travel industry professionals, aggregators, and corporate clients. Nucore Technologies will further empower the portal by integrating advanced reporting and analytics solutions, deepening its role as a dynamic interface for monitoring sales performance and optimizing business processes.

Bilen Arefaine, Assistant Vice President of ET Holiday & Digital/GCIC Sales at Ethiopian Airlines, highlighted that this partnership is a testament to the airline’s unwavering commitment to digital innovation. She emphasized that partners will now benefit from seamless access to NDC-based offers, ancillary services, and bundled travel solutions, all supported by a wide array of payment options. This flexibility is particularly relevant for African markets, where payment preferences can vary significantly from region to region.

The collaboration reflects Ethiopian Airlines’ broader ambition to lead Africa’s digital aviation revolution. By embracing next-generation retailing and distribution solutions, the airline is not only streamlining internal workflows but also empowering partners with richer content and better tools to serve customers. Enhanced analytics and integration features will allow partners to make data-driven decisions, improve efficiency, and respond more rapidly to market changes—critical advantages in today’s fast-evolving travel sector.

For Africa’s tourism industry, the Ethiopian-Nucore alliance signals a new era of digital empowerment. As distribution channels become more sophisticated, operators and agencies across the continent will be able to access more competitive offerings, deliver personalized experiences, and capture emerging opportunities in the global travel marketplace. The partnership sets a benchmark for how African airlines can collaborate with technology providers to unlock new value and remain competitive in a rapidly digitalizing world.

Ethiopian Airlines’ latest step forward underscores the importance of continuous investment in digital infrastructure, not just for operational efficiency, but as a catalyst for growth and innovation in African aviation. The airline’s focus on robust, scalable solutions highlights the transformative potential of technology in shaping the future of travel across the region.