Preview more pages from Eastern Africa Edition
Click here for an Interview with our Editor


 
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