ASKY Restores Damaged Boeing 737 to Service After Months of Structural Repairs
Pan-African carrier ASKY has restored one of its Boeing 737 aircraft, ET-BBB, to service after months of intensive maintenance and structural repairs following damage sustained at Niamey International Airport, Niger, in January.
The aircraft returned to ASKY’s base in Lomé, Togo, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, following the successful completion of a major heavy maintenance and structural repair programme undertaken by Ethiopian MRO.
ET-BBB had been out of service since incidents at Niamey International Airport on January 29, 2026, which resulted in structural damage to the aircraft. Its restoration required specialised engineering work and several months of maintenance before the aircraft could return to the airline’s fleet.
ASKY said the completion of the programme represented a significant milestone in the recovery of the aircraft and demonstrated the level of technical expertise and coordination required to restore an aircraft that has sustained structural damage.
According to the airline, the work carried out on ET-BBB involved extensive heavy maintenance and structural repairs, with engineers required to adhere strictly to applicable aviation safety and maintenance standards and regulations.
The carrier said the aircraft’s return was the outcome of a collaborative effort involving Ethiopian MRO, Boeing, other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and technical partners.
ASKY particularly commended Ethiopian MRO and its maintenance personnel for their professionalism, technical expertise and commitment throughout the repair process.
The airline said the recovery programme required “the highest levels of engineering precision, coordination” and compliance with aviation maintenance and safety requirements.
The successful return of ET-BBB is also expected to strengthen ASKY’s available fleet as the carrier continues to operate an expanding network linking destinations across Africa.
Commenting on the development, ASKY Chief Executive Officer, Esayas Hailu, described the aircraft’s return as evidence of the commitment of the airline’s technical teams and partners.
“The safe return of ET-BBB to our fleet is a testament to the dedication and technical excellence of our teams and partners,” Hailu said.
He said the completion of the recovery programme reinforced the airline’s focus on operational resilience and safety as it continues to expand its African network.
“This achievement reinforces our commitment to operational resilience and the highest standards of safety as we continue to expand and strengthen our network across Africa,” he said.
ASKY said the restoration of the aircraft reflected its broader commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, operational reliability and technical performance.
The carrier operates under private law as a commercial enterprise, with sustainability and profitability forming part of its business model.
Its ownership structure includes a number of major regional financial institutions, including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and Ecobank Group.
Ethiopian Airlines and the Government of Togo are also shareholders in the airline.
ASKY has a strategic technical partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, through which it benefits from the Ethiopian carrier’s operational and technical expertise.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 17 aircraft and serves 30 cities in 28 African countries. Its network is focused largely on improving intra-African connectivity by linking cities across different regions of the continent.
The carrier has also positioned its operations as part of efforts to support tourism, trade and wider economic activity within Africa by providing air links between markets that can otherwise have limited direct connectivity.
The return of ET-BBB comes at a time when aircraft availability remains an important operational consideration for African airlines, where lengthy maintenance cycles, specialised repairs and the availability of technical resources can affect fleet capacity.
For ASKY, bringing the Boeing 737 back into operation concludes a months-long technical recovery exercise and adds an aircraft to its available fleet.
The airline said it would continue to work with its technical partners and maintain its focus on safety, reliability and technical excellence as it grows its network and strengthens its operations across Africa.
