ETW STAFF – Mumbai
Ethiopian Airlines will launch new flight services non-stop from Addis Ababa to Cotonou, Benin effective June 15, 2012. The introduction of the new services will expand the airline’s extensive network in West Africa. The airline currently operates a total of 40 weekly flights to nine western African countries with daily east-west connections within the continent.
Besides this, the airline will also launch new flights from Addis Ababa to Toronto. The first flight will operate on July 16, 2012. This new flight will be the only regularly scheduled non-stop flights from Toronto to the African continent. The flight will be operated with the airline’s new and ultra-modern B777-200LR aircraft, configured with 34 seats in Ethiopian’s luxurious Cloud Nine business class and 287 seats in economy class. Ethiopian Airlines was unable to start with more than two flights per week due to bilateral limitations, but plans to immediately increase the frequency once approval is obtained.
Toronto will be Ethiopian’s 67th international destination, and second in the Americas. With this new flight, Toronto will be connected to dozens of cities in Africa via Ethiopian’s hub at Addis Ababa, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Lusaka, Bujumbura, the Seychelles, Douala, Kinshasa, and Harare.
Tewolde Gebre Mariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines said, “It has been our vision to connect Toronto with our hub, Addis, and to the rest of the world. Now, Ethiopian Airlines is committed to start services to Toronto twice a week, introducing a new route between Africa and Canada. By adding Toronto to our network, Ethiopian reinforces the ties between Canada and Ethiopia enhancing trade and investment. Also the new service to Benin will further strengthen the airline’s presence in Western African markets by widening flight options to its passengers.”
