Ethiopian Airlines starts direct services to Gaborone

JULY 2, 2015: Ethiopian Airlines, which has just launched new direct services to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, and to Cape Town, says it is working to create political and economic integration among African countries.

“Ethiopian Airlines continues to be the main actor in realizing Africans’ long-term plan of creating economic and political integration,” Ethiopian Airline s chief executive officer Tewolde Gebremariam said.

“As a Pan-African airline working to bring Africa together and closer to the world, we are very pleased to spread our wings to Cape Town and Gaborone. The new services will offer passengers more choice and flexibility, as well as facilitate trade, investment, and tourism ties between these two countries.”

The Deputy Head of Mission at the South African Embassy in Ethiopia, Fefe Dwabayo, said the new service from Addis Ababa to Cape Town would play a crucial role in expanding tourism and investment activities in two fast-growing countries.

“We see it as a precursor of further economic growth and co-operation between the two sisterly countries, which will surely have spillover effects to the continent in general,” she added.

The Ambassador of Botswana to Ethiopia, Mmamosadinyana Molefe, said the new flight to Gaborone will create more opportunities for the growth of Botswana’s tourism sector.

“Ethiopian Airlines is doing a great job of connecting Africa. This is in line with the African Union (AU) spirit of continental integration and we see this launch as further means of opening up linkages with the rest of the continent,” Molefe added.