In an attempt to connect better the United States with Africa, Ethiopian Airlines, is set to open new destination, adding frequencies and shifting gateways as of the summer of 2019.
“The new U.S. network is aimed at giving passengers travelling between the U.S. and all over Africa the best possible connectivity and shortest routes, whether they are traveling for leisure, business or government work. Accordingly, Washington D.C. flights will be increased from current daily to ten weekly flights,” said Africa’s largest airline.
“In line with our Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, we will keep on expanding our U.S. and African network so as to facilitate people-to-people ties and the flow of investment, trade and tourism,” said Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) indicated that the new additional three flights will pass thru Abidjan departing from Addis Ababa in the morning and arriving in Washington D.C. in the evening. The current three weekly flights to Chicago will be increased to five weekly flights.
“From the planned daily flights to New York, four will be served via Lomé to Newark and three will be via Abidjan to JFK Airport. There will be a new gateway, Houston, which will replace Los Angeles, and will be served three times per week via West Africa,” it said, in a press statement.
The new Houston flights will be the only connection between Houston and Africa and will facilitate the travel of the huge African community in the Houston area, and oil and other companies doing business in the continent.
“The U.S. is among our most important markets owing to the presence of a large African community and growing business and tourism ties with Africa. Our new route structure with additional frequencies to multiple gateways and the opening of new route to Houston are aimed at responding to the market demand and availing best possible connectivity to over 60 African destinations,” Mr. Tewolde said.
Ethiopian said flights will be served with latest technology aircraft, the Boeing 787, which offers unparalleled on-board comfort. Ethiopian has been expanding its international destinations which have now reached more than 119. Manchester, Moscow and Mogadishu are just some of the new destinations the airline launched recently.