Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operator in Africa has officially commenced a new service between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Atlanta, USA today.
Addis Ababa City Mayor, Adanech Abiebie, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Chargé d’affaires of US embassy in Addis Ababa Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, and other officials attended the inaugural ceremony.
Commenting on the launch of the new flight, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, Ethiopian will operate a four times weekly flight to Atlanta (ATL) starting from today.
The new flight is our 5th destination to the USA and we have been using Addis Ababa as a gateway, according to Mesfin.
He added that Addis Ababa, the most preferable destination, fast growing metropolitan and a diplomatic city; Atlanta is also the biggest city in the USA.
The CEO noted that Atlanta is home to several Ethiopian diaspora and the new flight will serve to strengthen relations of the two sister cities.
“We have been connecting the U.S. and Africa for 25 years now and the new service will help boost the investment, tourism, diplomatic and socioeconomic bonds between the two sister cities.”
As a pan-African carrier, we are committed to further expand our global network and connect Africa with the rest of the word, the CEO stressed.
Tracey Jacobson on her part noted that the ties between Ethiopia and USA is in all sector adding that the flight will help to further strengthen the relations of the two countries.
Addis Ababa City Mayor Adanech Abiebie on her part said “we want to work with Atlanta to foster the socio economic benefit of the two sister cities and learn from them.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on his part said the flight would play a crucial role in connecting people to people relations and enhance the ties with the sister city of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Atlanta will be Ethiopian Airlines’ 5th passenger destination in the USA following Chicago, Newark New York and Washington.
The multiple award-winning Airlines announced that in this month it will also launch additional flights to Copenhagen and Abijan.
Ethiopian is adding new destinations around the world and is currently flying to 145 domestic and international destinations on 5 continents.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency