Financiers, passengers and industry partners are, for now, still backing Ethiopian Airlines' quest to become Africa's dominant carrier, despite the crash this month that killed 157 people. The causes of the Flight 302 tragedy will likely take months to establish. While much of the international focus has been on US aviation giant Boeing and its 737 MAX-8 jet, the airline's reputation could also hinge on the results of the investigation. Although crash inquiries focus on preventing future accidents rather than attributing liability, any findings that the carrier fell short in maintenance or piloting could be damaging. For the present, passenger confidence in Ethiopian Airlines, long regarded as one of Africa's most reliable carriers, has remained steady, according to the company. Cancellation and booking rates are unchanged since the crash, said spokesperson Asrat Begashaw. "We are operating as normal," he said. Two banking sources with knowledge of the matter said that, barring a ma...
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