The Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, says there is an ongoing discussion with the Federal Government to secure landing rights in Lagos to commence direct flights to Houston, Texas in U.S.
GebrelMariam made this known at the Ethiopian Airlines Business Luncheon organised by the U.S. Bilateral Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday in Houston.
According to him, Nigeria is a good market place for Ethiopian Airlines because of the large number of Nigerians in Houston but for now we have not been able to get landing rights in Lagos.
“We are still discussing with the government of Nigeria and we hope we get the landing rights but meanwhile, it is just 30 minutes between Lagos and Lome, Togo, to board direct flight and the connectivity is sweet.
“These flights will facilitate greater commercial linkages between the U.S. and Ethiopia, particularly with the vast number of U.S. firms and Ethiopians in diaspora.
He said that aviation in Ethiopia was a high-growth sector with increasing demand for air transportation, both passenger and cargo, with the sector expanding at an average 30 per cent growth rate.
He said Houston would be connected with well-designed network, saying that Ethiopian Airlines had been working to bring Africa together and closer to the world for many decades.
“Africa has changed in the last few decades. Ethiopian Airlines has 80 million passengers yearly with 430,000 tonnes of cargo, generating more than four billion dollars yearly,’’ he said.
The Ethiopian Airlines boss said there was need to invest in Africa, saying that Africa was no longer a small continent.
“It is a large landmark with 54 countries.
“Africa with over 1.3 trillion young workforce and fast growing consumers’ market with more than 300 million dollars exports to the U.S.
“Aviation in Ethiopia is a high-growth sector with increasing demand for air transportation, both passenger and cargo, with the sector expanding to over 30 per cent growth rate.
“Ethiopian Airlines launched three times weekly flights between Addis Ababa and Houston, while the route will operate via Lome, Togo, using a Boeing 787-8,’’ GebrelMariam said.
According to him, this route will once again make Houston an airport with service to six continents.
“However, instead of operating nonstop in the Eastbound, Ethiopian Airlines can route via Lome and offer additional connections there through ASKY airlines – with whom Ethiopian Airlines partners,” he said.
GebrelMariam said Ethiopian Airlines kept on growing, saying that with the new flight, Africa’s largest carrier would offer new connections both to and from the U.S.
He described Africa as a unique and growing aviation market with incredible potential.
Ethiopian Ambassador to the U.S., Mr Fitsum Arega, said that Ethiopia had been expanding its network in trade and investment.
Arega noted that one of the major reasons why Ethiopian Airlines had to fly to Houston was the presence of large African diaspora in the region.
He said that there were huge opportunities for Ethiopia to strengthen investment opportunities to Houston.
The ambassador said that with about 110 million population, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in West Africa and one of the fastest growing economy in the world.
“With 10 per cent annual GDP growth with significant reduction of poverty, reforms in the country had reduced the cost of doing business and private investment participation now encouraged in the country.
“International Development Partners are being supported and Internal Multi-Fund has paid more than five million dollars to support Ethiopian home-grown economy.
“The newly-established U.S. Development Finance Corporation has promised to provide five billion dollars to support American and local businesses to invest in Ethiopia.
“The Ethiopian Government has also made significant investment in the development of industrial schemes for more than 15 industrial parks such as the Textile park, Pharmaceutical park, Agro park, were being developed, while private sector were being encouraged to do same.
ln his remarks, Mr Michael Raynor, the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, said the new Ethiopian Airlines would promote commerce, trade and investments between the two countries.
Raynor urged business communities in Houston to tap into the new business opportunities opening up across Ethiopia.
He said that the newly-inaugurated airline would make millions of people connect to Houston and transact business.
“ U.S. exports to Ethiopia in 2018 amounted to 1.3 billion dollars, while U.S. goods imported from Ethiopia totalled 445 million dollars in 2018,’’ he said.
Ethiopian Maiden Airlines 787-8 flight was first launched in Togo, Lome, on Dec. 16 en route to Houston for the inaugural flight.
