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ETHIOPIAN
AIRLINES TO LAUNCH NEW SERVICES TO MOMBASA
Ethiopian
Airlines Wins Friends and Influences People
Worldwide
by Jerry
W. Bird
 How
many of our under 30 generation have read his
books, or even know about Dale Carnegie, I could
never guess. Yet this one man's simple concepts
have changed millions of lives dramatically and
positively for generations, not just in North
America, but around the world. In my opinion
everyone should read at least one of his inspiring
books. Like Napoleon Hill, another author who has
inspired folks around the world, he leads by
example. The management at Ethiopian Airlines has
the type of action-based thinking and 'hands on'
approach Carnegie talks about on every page of his
best seller, "How to Win Friends and Influence
People." Speaking of winning friends, the way our
group of 11 journalists was catered to during a
Tourism Ministry sponsored flight from the USA to
Addis Ababa -- and around the country on its
regional routes, left its mark indelibly on each of
us. Following the Historic Route Tour to Lalibela,
Gondar, Bahir Dar-and Lake Tana, I had the
opportunity of working at the company's head office
for several days, laying the foundation for this
issue and an updated (Post Congress) edition of
Africa Travel Magazine. That was when I experienced
the "Spirit of Ethiopian Airlines" first hand.
Continued
News
Releases
Ethiopian to
Strengthen its Presence in the Middle
East
Ethiopian Airlines,
the fastest growing African carrier, has announced
its plan to launch flight services to Kuwait and
Riyadh starting June 2, 2008. The flights will
operate Addis Ababa-Riyadh-Kuwait-Addis Ababa twice
weekly on Mondays and Thursdays with the return
flights on Tuesdays and Fridays. As a direct route
to Riyadh and Kuwait from the Sub
Sahara Africa, this new service provides convenient
connections for passengers originating from various
points in Africa. Passengers will save trip time
from points of origin to destination as well as
transit time at the Addis Ababa Bole International
Airport.
Currently Ethiopian
operates 35 flights weekly to six destinations in
the Middle East; namely - Abu Dhabi, Bahrain,
Beirut, Dubai,
Jeddah and Sana'a. The introduction of two
additional weekly flights to Riyadh and Kuwait will
further strengthen Ethiopian's foot prints in the
Middle East.
Busera Awel,
Ethiopian Vice President Commercial said, "We are
pleased that our enhanced presence will provide
travelers, particularly those in the Sub- Sahara
Africa, with more convenient access to the Middle
East, and we are also confident that the new link
will stimulate increased exchange of commerce and
tourism traffic between the Middle East and the
African continent."
Riyadh and Kuwait
are among the fastest growing cities in the Middle
East. Riyadh is the largest city and capital of
Saudi Arabia located in the heart of the Arabian
Peninsula, while Kuwait, the capital of the State
of Kuwait, is situated on the coastal region of the
Persian Gulf.
About
Ethiopian
MANAGEMENT BOARD
CHAIRMAN :H.E. Mr. Seyoum Mesfin
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER : Mr. Girma Wake
Ethiopian Airlines
was founded on 30th December 1945, initially with
the contractual assistance of TWA. The first planes
used by the Airline were five DC-3's. The first
international scheduled service was inaugurated
between Addis Ababa and Cairo on April 8,
1946.
NO. OF EMPLOYEES :
4,705 As of June 30, 2006
PASSENGERS
TRANSPORTED : 1,762,900 Year ending June 30,
2006
Ethiopian
Airlines,
www.ethiopianairlines.com,
one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in
Africa made its maiden flight to Cairo in 1946. The
airline currently serves 50 destinations around the
globe, 30 of which are in Africa. The addition of
services to Kuwait and Riyadh will bring the total
number of the Airline's international destinations
to 52.
Ethiopian will
be the first carrier to operate the Dreamliner-B787
in Africa, the Middle East and
Europe.
In 2006 and 2007
Ethiopian has earned three different awards
respectively from the African Aviation Journal, the
African Times/USA, and the Government of Ghana for
its best performance in the commercial air
transport industry.
ETHIOPIAN
WINS FRIENDS (continued)
Now
I won't pretend to be a complete stranger to the
airline; a friend at ATA, Hagos Legesse of New
York, made me a gift that I have treasured ever
since. Born in Ethiopia, Mr. Legesse is a well
respected travel consultant and served as an ATA
Director for many years. This timely gift was a
deluxe coffee table edition of "Bringing Africa
Together," a book that tells the story of humble
beginnings, followed by the rise of Ethiopian
Airlines to world status, through decades of trials
and tribulations, peace and war. The addition of
direct flights to Addis Ababa from Washington, DC
and New York/ Newark, is the latest feather in the
airline's cap.
If
all of this tender loving care (TLC) I spoke of
wasn't enough, on our return flight I was presented
with a beautiful silk necktie compliments of the
airline. I've worn it with pride at every
opportunity ever since. This colorful piece of
wearable art bears a replica of a classic stained
glass window that adorns the United Nations
Conference Center in Addis Ababa.
The design is by the artist Tekle (see his profile
in this issue). Having pioneered a mighty "Air
Bridge to Africa," Ethiopian Airlines now flies to
more African destinations than any carrier in the
world. See the above map above for a quick idea of
its routes to and from the continents. From what
myself and colleagues have experienced in my first
return flight, I am sure that Ethiopian Airlines
will continue to influence people and win friends
for generations to come. Read more about Ethiopian
Airlines in our Fall Edition and on our Web
Site.
Ethiopian
Airlines
336 East 45th
Street, Suite 301
New York, NY
10017
212
867-0120
212
692-9589
Website www.flyethiopian.com
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