Ethiopian Airlines has launched its flight to the Copperbelt direct from Addis Ababa to Ndola three times a week.
Transport and Communication Minister Christopher Yaluma says this development is attributed to the viable and enabling investment climate in the country.
Speaking at the same function, Director Advertising and Promotions for Ethiopian Airlines Mengistu Adelahu said Ethiopian is committed to enhance its services in Africa by taking the continent to a new level.
Mr. Yaluma says the Addis Ababa – Ndola direct flight was due to the political stability that the country enjoys and the cordial relations that government shares with Ethiopia.
The minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Stanford Msichili at the inaugural of the Airline’s fright in Ndola yesterday.
He maintained that the commencement of Ethiopian flights to Ndola will sell Zambia’s tourism to the world.
Mr. Yaluma said the launch had come at a better time when Zambia and Zimbabwe will jointly host the United Nations General Assembly on tourism.
Mr. Yaluma said government would support the Airline as it has placed tourism high on the economic agenda adding that this will not only spur creation of employment but also meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said government was proud that Ethiopian Airlines had added Ndola as its 45th African destination to its worldwide route network.
He added that the introduction of new routes will contribute to the development and growth of the aviation industry in Zambia, Africa and the world at large.
Speaking at the same function, Director Advertising and Promotions for Ethiopian Airlines Mengistu Adelahu said Ethiopian is committed to enhance its services in Africa by taking the continent to a new level.
Mr. Adelahu said Ethiopian Airlines is positioned to provide people to people economic and social ties between nations by serving the needs of the Africa of tomorrow.
He further said with a population constituting a sixth of the world, untapped mineral and oil resources and huge tracts of arable land it was time for Africa to ascend in the global economic landscape.
He noted that the rise and development of Africa was driven by dependable and convenient air transport adding that Ethiopian Airlines has proven this by widening its route network, building its capacity in both infrastructure and human resources.
And National Airports Corporation Managing Director Robinson Misitala said plans were underway to construct a new and bigger airport on the Copperbelt at a site to be announced soon.
ZANIS
Wonderful ! Ba Kenyan airways baliyamba ukum-pa on that route.This is good news.
Very strategic business decision by Ethiopian Airlines. We welcome your services to the CB.
By the way when will our own national flag carrier become operational?
Good news. But I am waiting for the best news when I shall hear that a Zambian airline has started to land in Ethiopia. Sad that we can run our own affairs. Hope PF can help restore some Zambian pride in this area.
Nachonga with a pick tick. Will be flying straight to Ndola now.
I meant a big tick
Zambians being looked after by other nations.. wake up and own a national airline. Zambia will be a joke, no trains for the 13m people, no council run buses.. Stop nature resources being rooted by China.. no camping in SA .. spend the monies locally and develop local market 🙂
Funny how one blogger links national pride to creation of a national airline. This is an outdated sense of national pride the selfsame nationalistic of the 1960s that stated that it was plausible for every newly independent nation to have its own airline. Do you honestly think it makes commercial sense to create one in this day and age? The way forward is staring at you right in your faces…let the 3 big airports operate as independent entities and compete by attracting International and regional traffic the same way Ethiopian Airlines has added Ndola.
*selfsame nationalistic pride of the 1960s
Jay jay walasa!
U r spot on no.3, we celebrate only when a Zambian owned airline commences flights between Ndola and Addis Ababa. Why do we have a tendency to glorify anything foreign?
If every Zambian was like #3 and #9, Zambia would develop better. MMD had retrogressed Zambia’s development because of the thinking of people like #6,7 and 8. we can’t make progress with people who think like them.
iwe chisakasaka @10,
what wrong as jay jay @6 said?
where you very young when zambian airways was closed?
what were the reasons tabled in parliament for that measure?
lets not go back to our own vomit…
Look who is talking. Its like some man comes to your house and takes over your wife and u are busy praising him…have yr own airline and start expanding too. Thats the only way you can grow an economy Yaba…. but the thinking of Gvt leaders???
what cheap flight can i use to travel to ethopia or dar?