The Ethiopian Airlines is planning to bid to buy a stake in the struggling airline of Malawi. The government of Malawi plans to sell 49 percent stake to a foreign airline and a local investor in the new flagship airline incorporated this month.

Tewolde Gebremaraim, Ethiopian CEO, who was attending African Airlines Association 44th Annual General Assembly (AGA), told reporters that Ethiopian wants to help Air Malawi. “They are our African brothers and we want to share our experience,” Tewolde said.

Ethiopian airlines will be competing against seven other companies which were selected to participate in the bids for the new Air Malawi flagship.

Amongst the bidding companies is Com Air of South Africa, which has had an on-off interest in Air Malawi for the past decade.

Malawi Privatisation Authority and Ernest & Young are handling the privatisation of Air Malawi on behalf of government.

Ethiopian is one of the three biggest African airlines. The others are South African Airways and Kenya Airways.