By AbdulRaheem Aodu Kaduna
Ethiopian Airline is set to commence direct fl ights from Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa to Kaduna three times per week from August 1, 2017, the Airline has said. Th e largest and leading pan African airline currently runs direct fl ights to four Nigerian cities of Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu, but Kaduna will become the fi fth destination of its international fl ights from next month, according to its Traffi c and Sales Manager, Mrs Firiehiwot Mekonnen. She told business reporters in Kaduna on Tuesday that Ethiopian Airline will run the thrice weekly fl ights on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays with the international fl ights departing Addis Ababa 9:30 and arriving Kaduna International
Airport 12:30. Th e airline will depart Kaduna 13:20 same day and arrive Addis Ababa 20:20 same day. “During the temporary closure of Abuja Airport for reconstruction four months ago, we were the foreign carrier to uphold a gesture of solidarity with our beloved Nigerian brothers and sisters, landing at Kaduna Airport and allowing our passengers to experience ultimate comfort on board our B-787 Dreamliner. “It is a source of great pride for us to consolidate the warm bilateral and people to people ties that the two countries are enjoying with the commencement of this operation to Kaduna thrice weekly as of August 1st, 2017; a fi fth city in Nigeria. Kaduna is a trade centre and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junctions. “Th e airline has been echoing the Pan African call that Africa must unite in order to realise its renaissance. We have been fl ying to more number destinations in Africa than any other airline. We connect more than 95 international destinations in fi ve continents, more than 55 of which are in Africa. “I would like to assure you that in line with our long term strategic roadmap, Vision 2025, expanding and availing a more effi cient intra African network will remain at the core of our operation and we shall keep on playing the positive role in catalysing the socio-economic development of our continent Africa,” the airline representative added.
