Ethiopian Airlines Launches New Direct Flights between Los Angeles and East Africa

Los Angeles, CA – Ethiopian Airlines welcomed more than 400 guests to a special event on June 20 at the Ray Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, to celebrate the launch of its new direct flights from Los Angeles to East Africa.

The evening included food, drinks and entertainment to kick off the new itinerary, which now has the shortest flying time from Los Angeles to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and includes connections to 52 destinations throughout Africa. In addition, with a stop in Dublin, Ireland, it is the only non-stop flight between Los Angeles and Dublin.

Dignitaries from several countries attended the event, including the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam, official Los Angeles delegates, and the ambassador of Ireland.

Speakers included ambassador Zerihun Retta, consul general of Ethiopia in the US; the ambassador of Ethiopia to the US H. E. Girma Birru; Niall Gibbons, CEO of tourism Ireland; and Samson Mengistu, deputy executive director administration of Los Angeles World Airports. Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles greeted the audience from a video message.

The evening was emceed by well-known TV host Joseph Rosendo of “Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope”, and included performances by several artists from both Ethiopia and Ireland. Noted chef Wolfgang Puck catered the event, and was accompanied by his Ethiopian-born wife, Gelila.

Guests had the chance to win a complimentary trip to Ethopia by entering their names into drawings throughout the evening, and upon leaving all attendees received gift bags filled with a model Boeing Dreamliner, pens from

Boeing, luggage tags courtesy of Discover Los Angeles, miniature bottles of Pernod-Ricard’s Jameson Irish Whiskey and half pound bags of Keffa Ethiopian Coffee.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) marked the arrival of flight 504 on the morning of June 20 with a separate celebration.

The plane was saluted by fire trucks with flashing lights, and afterwards a reception was held in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Source: africabusinesscommunities.com