Irish President Flies to Mekelle on-Board Ethiopian Airlines

Press Release –

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Following their arrival on board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 701/2 November 2014 from London to Addis Ababa, The President of the Republic of Ireland, H.E. Dr. Michael F. Higgins, the First Lady, H.E. Mrs. Sabina Higgins and their accompanying delegation continued their travel on-board Ethiopian Q-400 aircraft from Addis Ababa to Mekelle for a visit of development projects in Tigray region.

Ethiopian Regional Service is highly honored to have the opportunity to serve once again H.E. President Higgins and the First Lady of Ireland on-board its domestic flight.

“We are highly honored to have been given the opportunity to serve H.E. President Higgins and the First Lady on-board our domestic flight to Mekelle. On behalf of all at Ethiopian, I would like to thank H.E. the President and the First lady and their team for giving us the opportunity to serve them on our domestic flight.

Last week, we were given similar opportunity to serve H.E. Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank, from Washington D.C. to Addis Ababa on our nonstop flight operated with the most modern airplane, the B787 Dreamliner. This shows that our world class and award winning cabin service operated by the most advanced airplanes have been appreciated and recognized by globally known prominent personalities and VIPs.

Our domestic network, covering 20 destinations in the four corners of the country, is playing a critical role in enabling broad-based, decentralized and all-inclusive socio-economic development throughout the country by availing the necessary air connectivity for the flow of tourism, trade and investment. “, said CEO of Ethiopian, Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam.

Ethiopian Regional Service currently operates scheduled flights to 20 domestic stations, including all the major tourism sites in Ethiopia using the latest and customized Q-400 aircraft with business class configuration, and B737. In line with Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, it aims to increase the number of domestic destinations to 26 by 2025.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa. In 2014, IATA ranked Ethiopian as the largest airline in Africa in revenue and profit. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has been a pioneer of African aviation as an aircraft technology leader providing the first jet service in the continent in 1962, and availing the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010 and the first African and second only to Japan B787 Dreamliner in 2012.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 83 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. 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 airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units: Ethiopian International Passenger Service; Ethiopian Regional Service; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Service and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning, including SKYTRAX and Passenger Choice Awards in 2013 and has been registering an average growth of 25% per annum in the past seven years.

For more information about this press release, please contact:
Manager PR & Publications
Ethiopian Airlines
Tel: (251-1) 517-84-07

Follow us on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethiopianairlines
Twitter: www.twitter.com/flyethiopian
YouTube: www.youtube.com/flyethiopian