Philippines and Africa Now Connected by Direct Flights to Manila by Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines conducted its inaugural direct flight to Manila on July 09. Ethiopian Airlines is the first African Airlines to fly directly to the Philippines thus making this a historic flight that will pave the way to greater engagement with the entire African continent. Ethiopian Airlines currently serves 52 African countries.

It is hoped that bilateral trade, investments, tourism (people-to-people exchanges), high-level exchanges of respective countries’ senior officials, and cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Ethiopia will be strengthened significantly with the commencement of these direct flights.

The Ethiopian Airlines is offering flight services (Manila-Addis Ababa route) using its Boeing 767-300 aircraft thrice weekly bringing the total number of Ethiopian Airlines international destinations to 90. The Ethiopian Airlines will serve the growing traffic between Asia and Africa by giving the best possible connectivity.

To celebrate the successful launching of the Addis Ababa-Manila route, the Ethiopian Airlines hosted a Stakeholders’ Meeting on July 10 at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-la Hotel. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was represented by Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura Del Rosario, Assistant Secretary Julius Torres of the Office of the Undersecretary for Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA), Executive Director Hjayceelyn Quintana and Director for African Division Leilani S. Feliciano. It may be recalled that Undersecretary Del Rosario served as the Department’s focal person during the negotiations for the Air Talks/Consultations between the Philippines and Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Non-Resident Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Dibaba Abdetta, Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Teowolde Gebremariam, and PanEuro Chairperson James Dy were among the first passengers in the maiden flight of Ethiopian Airlines on July 09. They also led the ceremonies at the Stakeholders’ Meeting on July 10. Ambassador Dibaba Abdetta paid tribute to the support extended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario to the establishment of the direct flights.