*Ethiopian Introduces Free Transit Tour for International Passengers
Ethiopian Airlines said it would restructure its United States of America (USA) network with new destinations, more frequencies and shifting gateways as of the summer of 2019.
The airline said the new US network is aimed at giving passengers travelling between the US 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.
The new additional three flights would pass through 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. Lastly, there will be a new gateway, Houston, which will replace Los Angeles, and will be served three times per week via West Africa.
Ethiopia said the new Houston flights would be the only connection between Houston and Africa and would facilitate the travel of the huge African community in the Houston area, and oil and other companies doing business in the continent. Flights will be served with latest technology aircraft, the Boeing 787, which offers unparalleled on-board comfort.
Regarding the route restructuring, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “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.
“Onboard our flights, our customers will continue to enjoy our premium and award-winning service on the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft, the Boeing 787. 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”, he said.
Africa’s leading carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, 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.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has extended free transit tour to global passengers as of February 1, 2019.
The new complimentary city tour package organized by ET Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian Airlines, takes transiting passengers with six to eight hours’ time in the running capital, Addis Ababa, on a journey through one of the landmarks of the city, The National Museum, accompanied with a taste of Ethiopian Coffee and souvenir shopping at affordable prices and make them experience the unique flavors of the political capital of Africa during their brief stay.
Regarding the initiative, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “As travel has gone digital with our innovative technology solutions including Ethiopia Mobile App and online platforms, the huge influx of transit passengers in Addis Ababa, the world’s gateway to Africa, can enjoy personalized and end-to- end travel experience.
Ethiopian Mobile App enables passengers secure their visa electronically within 4 hours from any part of the world, as well as book their flights, pay online using credit or debit cards, mobile money, e- Wallet and bank transfer, check-in and issue boarding pass seamlessly. As we continue to discover and deliver the best for our customers, we are pleased to come up with complimentary offerings to our global transiting passengers and make them savor every moment and feel the real taste of Addis Ababa during their brief stay. While promoting Ethiopia, Land of Origins, and its beautiful capital Addis Ababa alike, as tourist destinations, we will keep promoting initiatives tailored to provide our ever growing customer with a unique and unforgettable travel experience.”
THISDAY
