Ethiopian Airlines CEO reports $6 million in carbon-credit spending

Ethiopian Airlines spent about $6 million on carbon credits in the 2025/26 fiscal year, chief executive Mesfin Tasew said at an aviation legal conference in Addis Ababa on October 8, 2026, according to The Reporter.

The disclosure, reported on October 10, puts a figure on the carrier’s spending to offset emissions. Mesfin told the fourth East African Community In-House Counsel Convention that he expects the annual cost to rise in coming years. That expectation is a forecast, rather than a confirmed future expense.

The Reporter linked the purchases to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, known as CORSIA. The scheme addresses emissions from international aviation through offsetting requirements.

Mesfin also raised concerns about additional carbon charges imposed by some African governments, arguing that overlapping requirements add to airlines’ compliance costs. His remarks extended to taxes and consumer-protection rules across the jurisdictions served by international carriers.

On sustainable aviation fuel, Mesfin said Ethiopian Airlines would buy it if supplies became available, but identified limited availability in Africa as an obstacle. The remarks describe the airline’s willingness to purchase the fuel; they do not announce a supply agreement or a new procurement programme.

The $6 million figure is attributed to Mesfin’s conference remarks as reported by The Reporter. The source material does not provide an audited breakdown of the purchases or identify the individual credits acquired.