Eritrean Airlines Makes a Historic Inaugural Flight to Addis

Earlier today (04 August 2018), an Eritrean Airlines carrier has arrived at the Bole International Airport carrying, an Eritrean High-level Delegation led by Eritrean Minister of Transport and Communications, Tesfasellasie Berhane.

Upon arrival, the Eritrean high-level delegation led by Minister Tesfasellasie Berhane, that includes the Minister of Tourism, Askale Menkerios and the Director General of Eritrean Civil Avaition Authority, Paulos Kahsai together with flight crew and the passengers onboard this landmark flight were colourfully welcomed by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs Hirut Zemene, State Minister for Transport, Eshete Assfaw and Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam and Director General of Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Colonel Wosenyeleh Hunegnaw.

In his opening remarks, CEO Tewolde said that the historic inaugural flight made by Eritrean Airlines is indicative of a burgeoning demand for an ever growing aviation cooperation between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He also added, that there are discussions underway between the two airlines to expand their scope of cooperations.

Speaking at the ceremony celebrating the inaugural event, State Minister Hirut expressed her elation and said that “this is a special day.” She noted, Ethiopia and Eritrea have reached a remarkable milestone in a span of only 6 weeks, which she added, is an epitome of the culture of mutual respect and cooperation as well as common aspirations for development shared by the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Mrs Hirut reiterated the fact that the peoples the two countries share lots of commonalities in the social, cultural and economic spheres.

Eritrean Minister of Transport, Tesfasellasie, on his part, said that “Eritrean Airlines is not going to compete with Ethiopian Airlines but we are going to cooperate in assisting each other.” He further noted, “we will work together in the development of the business community as well as the development of the two countries.”

Alluding to the current multifaceted strides Ethiopia and Eritrea have made, State Minister Hirut underscored the fact that the commencement of telecommunications, the creation of a flight connection, the consolidation of diplomatic relations and a high-level official visits made by the leaders of both countries in under less than two weeks are the four major key events that have laid the foundation for this historic inaugural flight.

Mrs Hirut stated that, the commencement of flights between the two countries will further boost business, tourism, people-to-people ties as this is “a relation that transcends a textbook era relations.”

In her concluding remarks, State Minister Hirut underlined the fact that this inaugural event is “a testimony to the ever strengthening relations between the two countries.”

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry