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By Portus Chege and Mary Mwendwa
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading carrier, is set to launch a new passenger flight from its hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Copenhagen, Denmark in the second quarter of this year, marking its 21st destination in Europe.
Starting May 22, 2023, the new flight will operate five times weekly save Tuesdays and Sundays. “With the launch of the flight, Copenhagen will become a crucial gateway for Ethiopian Airlines in northern Europe and southern Scandinavia,” Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said.
Given the wide network of Ethiopian Airlines across Africa, the new flight will enhance the air connectivity between Europe and Africa thereby facilitating trade, tourism, and diplomatic relations between the two regions. The African carrier started serving Copenhagen in November 1999 but suspended the flight service four years later.
Copenhagen Airport authorities underscored the mutual desire to improve connectivity between the Nordic country and Africa. “This new route will be an amazing gateway to the African continent for Copenhagen,” Thomas Woldbye, Chief Executive Officer, of Copenhagen Airport, said.
Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is one of Africa’s most important hubs, with onward connections to more than 60 different cities in Africa. “Therefore, it is really good news that Ethiopian Airlines now will start flying to Copenhagen,” the airport boss said.
Woldbye said the direct route will create new opportunities for Danish businesses, especially the pharma industry, given the state-of-the-art facilities and pharma wing of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services.
Ethiopian Airlines, who for the last five years have been awarded as the best airline and the best Business and Economy Class airline in Africa, will deploy a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the route, with a 315-seat arrangement.
Fastest Growing
With over 70 years of operation, Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing in Africa and has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success.
Added to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the airline is also pursuing a multi-hub strategy, including a hub in Lome, Togo with Asky Airlines; in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways.
Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network, operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 145 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Its fleet consists of ultramodern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 767-300, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900, and DHC Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years.
The airline is the first in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft. Following a successful achievement of its strategic plan (Vision 2025), Ethiopian Airlines is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan dubbed Vision 2035. The plan is expected which to see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secured, market-driven, and customer-focused passenger and cargo transport and logistics services, aviation training, airport management, and ground services, MRO and aerospace manufacturing and travel and tourism services.
A Star Alliance member since 2011, the Airline has registered more than threefold growth in the past 10 years.
