Ethiopian Airlines Celebrates 10 Years of Uninterrupted Service to Guangzhou

Press Release

Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing and the most profitable Airline in Africa, has celebrated its ten years of continuous service to Guangzhou, the third largest Chinese city, on December 19, 2013. Mr. Zhu Qianhong Vice-President of Guangdong Airports Management Group, Mr. Melaku Legesse, Consul-General of Ethiopia in Guangzhou, graced the event.

Ethiopian was the first African carrier and the fourth in the world to fly to China. Since the first flight 40 years ago, China has been a key market and continues to be one of the most important destinations for Ethiopian. Currently, Ethiopian has non-stop daily flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Hong Kong. In total, Ethiopian serves 28 weekly flights to four destinations in China.

“With a humble beginning of a weekly flight to China 40 years ago, Ethiopian operation has grown tremendously with the fast economic development of China. As a result, today we are flying 28 weekly flights to China with daily seamless connections to the continent of Africa. Guangzhou is an important gateway for China-Africa business relations. We are planning to grow our market position in China in line with the planned growth of trade and investment relations between the two continents.”, said Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

At the event, Travel and cargo agents who have contributed for the growth of Ethiopian market in China were recognized.

Ethiopian currently operates to 47 African and 79 international destinations across five continents.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 78 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 aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% 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
Email: publicrelations@ethiopianairlines.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethiopianairlines
Twitter: @flyethiopian