As part of innovation and practical show of affirmative action, Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline group, has announced its first all women cabin crew flight from Addis Ababa to Nigeria scheduled for Dec. 16.

A statement issued by the airline on Monday in Addis Ababa, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, said that from the pilots and cabin crew to in flight ramp operations, as well as flight dispatchers on ground would be women.

It said that it would also be the first time the airlines would be operating an all women flight in Africa.

According to the statement, the flight, which is expected to leave for Lagos, Nigeria from Addis Ababa on Dec. 16, will have on board some selected Nigerian journalists.

It quoted the pilot, Capt. Amsale Gualu as saying, “this flight shows us that if women get equal opportunities and work hard,  they can achieve whatever they want in all fields including the aviation industry’’.

“The all-female crew which also has Tigist Kibret as First Officer, will be flying the Boeing 777.

“In a country where few women have dared to enter the highly male-dominated profession of piloting, Captain Guale, in 2010 became the first Ethiopian female captain to fly an Ethiopian Airlines Bombardier from Addis Ababa to Gondar.

“Ethiopian airlines say it wants to promote women’s empowerment and encourage more African women to pursue aviation careers.

“Although one-third of its employees are women, the figure is smaller when it comes to positions such as pilots and technicians,’’ it said.