Ethiopian Airlines resumes flight to Asmara

Following the recent normalization of relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ethiopian Airlines is set to resume daily flights to Asmara, Eritrea. The first flight will be on 17 July 2018 with the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft, the Boeing 787, according to Ethiopian Airlines.

This follows agreements reached in Asmara between Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and President Isaias Afewerki of the State of Eritrea.

Commenting on how travelers from Ethiopia get the visa to Eritrea before the embassy opens, “Details regarding this trip are not still laid out but we definitely can assist Ethiopians who want to travel to Eritrea,” said Eritrea’s Representative to the AU and UN Economic Commission for Africa, Ambassador Araia Desta, said to AP Correspondent in Addis Ababa.

“We can’t process a Visa here. What we can do is send their passport copy to Asmara… and ask for the issuance of a Visa on arrival,” the Ambassador said.

Regarding the resumption of flights to Eritrea’s capital, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam said:



“We at Ethiopian feel an immense honor and joy to resume scheduled flights to Asmara after 20 years, following the visit to Eritrea by Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. With the opening of a new chapter of peace and friendship between the two sisterly countries, we look forward to starting flights to Asmara with the B787, the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft, which gives customers unparalleled on-board comfort.

The resumption of air links will play a critical role in boosting the overall political, economic, trade and people-to-people ties between the two sisterly countries.

Thanks to Ethiopian extensive network of more than 114 international destinations in 5 continents, our flights to Asmara will avail best connectivity options to the vast Eritrean Diaspora Community across the world and will boost the flow of investment, trade and tourism into Eritrea.

Very quickly, we plan to operate multiple daily service and to start cargo flights in view of the huge market potential between the two sisterly countries.”

Asmara is the capital and the largest city of Eritrea and is situated in Eritrea’s central Maekel Region. It is home to the Eritrean National Museum and is known for its early 20th-century buildings including the Art Deco Cinema Impero, one of the world’s finest examples of Art Déco style building, Cubist Africa Pension, eclectic Orthodox Cathedral and former Opera House, the futurist Fiat Tagliero Building, the neo-Romanesque Church of Our Lady of the Rosary,  neoclassical Governor’s Palace and much more.

Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 110 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.

Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with eight business centers:

1. Ethiopian Regional Services;
2. Ethiopian International Services;
3. Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services;
4. Ethiopian MRO Services;
5. Ethiopian Aviation Academy;
6. Ethiopian In-flight Catering;
7. Ethiopian Ground Services and
8. Ethiopian Airports Services.                                                                                                     Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6BCLHSlMI8[/embedyt]