flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, has announced it is to begin flights to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
Flights to the East African nation will begin on April 22 and operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, the carrier said in a statement.
Ethiopia will be flydubai’s destination in Africa, where it also serves Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti.
Following on from the Fourth Annual Comesa Conference, which took place in Dubai last week and discussed investment and business opportunities in Eastern and Southern Africa, the new route aims to continue to encourage business and tourism to Ethiopia, the airline added.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said: “There are significant ties between the UAE and Ethiopia that have registered steady growth over the past few years.
“The announcement of flights to Addis Ababa will not only help to develop these further but also provide an affordable travel option for business people and tourists alike.”
Home to the African Union, Addis Ababa is often called the political capital of Africa due to its historical, cultural and political significance.
Ethiopia’s economy is predominantly driven by agriculture with cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds and sugarcane forming the bulk of the nation’s produce.
Key export partners range from Germany and Italy in Europe, to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Japan in the Middle and Far East.
The non-oil trade between Dubai and Ethiopia currently stands at more than $76 million.
Follow us on
