Ethiopian Airlines is waiting for flight permits from Chinese authorities to fly to the Chinese destinations of Chongqing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, according to the CEO
ADDIS ABABA (CGTN Africa) – Ethiopia’s national air carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, plans to add three more Chinese flight destinations, the CEO said on Tuesday (02 April 2019).
Speaking to Xinhua, Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, said Ethiopian Airlines is waiting for flight permits from Chinese authorities to fly to the Chinese destinations of Chongqing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou.
“In addition to planning three new Chinese destinations, ET is also planning to increase its flight frequencies to the Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shanghai,” said Ato Tewolde.
“Ethiopia’s cargo and passenger flight frequencies and destinations need to increase to keep up with the fast-rising ties between African countries and China,” he further said.
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates daily passenger flights from Addis Ababa to Guangzhou and Beijing, and three-times-a-week passenger flights to Chengdu, as well as daily passenger and cargo flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai. The airlines was the first African airline to start flight services to China, back in 1973.
Ato Tewolde also recently said Ethiopian Airlines has started facilitating visa hub service for Chinese traveling to 35 African countries.
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“Most African countries’ embassies are located in Beijing, but China is a big country and some Chinese may not be able to come to Beijing to apply for visas in countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia or Nigeria,” Ato Tewolde said.
“The visa scheme will facilitate easier air travel for Chinese experts and business people and reduces their financial cost. We believe the visa scheme will significantly boost China-Africa trade ties and we are very excited about it,” he further said.
He further said the carrier has the largest air network for an African airline in China, currently traveling to five Chinese destinations, helping Chinese and foreign nationals living in various corners of China to directly travel to Ethiopia and beyond without the need to transit through the Chinese capital city Beijing.
Source: CGTN Africa