02 Jul 2015

The oldest airline in Africa, Ethiopian airline, has started operating between Gaborone and Addis Ababa with effect from June 30.

Speaking at the reception to mark the official launch of the airline in Gaborone on June 30, the managing director of the airline, Mr Esayas Woldemariam said the coming of the airline would foster and promote positive relationships among the people of Botswana and Ethiopia.

Mr Woldemariam said Botswana was the 51st African destination of the Ethiopian airline and the 89th destination in the world. He said Botswana might be small in terms of population, but it had potential to connect the world without the hassles of visas as it was the case with some of their destinations.

The managing director noted that the airline had been in existence since 1945, making it the oldest in Africa.

He said the many years of operation had taught them all the experiences of operating an airline, adding that they had been growing with the years.He said after realising that Botswana was the hub of gem diamonds in the world and knowing well that all diamond buyers and dealers would be flocking to Botswana, they decided to introduce the flight between Gaborone and Addis Ababa for easy movement of people without having to go through any other place where visas would be required.

Mr Woldemariam said the direct flight would not be only looking at diamonds buyers alone, but would help the two countries in enriching cultural exchanges and uniting the peoples of the two countries in business and tourism. Ends