South Africa’s trade with the
rest of the continent received
a boost with the recent launch
of direct flights from Addis
Ababa to Durban that will
provide mutually beneficial
trade opportunities with
Africa’s second most populous
country.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for
Economic Development and
Tourism, Mike Mabuyakhulu,
said the local and provincial
government had adopted
a “very aggressive stance”
to building viable and
sustainable routes from
King Shaka International
Airport and that the latest
international carrier to offer
direct flights, Ethiopian
Airlines, would facilitate
trade between South Africa,
Ethiopia and its connected
regions.
Ethiopian Airlines, which
flies to 91 destinations on
five continents, relaunched
its direct flights to Durban in
Decemeber.
International services
managing director, Esayas
Waldemariam, said the airline
would fly to Durban three
times a week on a Wednesday,
Friday and Sunday. However,
he said it would increase
frequency to daily and double
daily flights depending on
passenger demand.
Ethiopia has recorded
a GDP of 10.3% over the
past five years and is one of
the most rapidly growing
economies in the world
alongside Nigeria, Mexico and
Indonesia.
KZN Economic
Development and Tourism
HOD Desmond Golding said
a business delegation would
soon be visiting Ethiopia to
explore mutually beneficial
business opportunities in
tourism, agri-business and
other sectors.
“With the drought
(in Ethiopia) we could
use Dube Tradeport for
entrepreneurs in agribusiness
to help supply
them with fresh produce
lines because by the time it
gets to them in a few hours
it would still be fresh,” he
said.
Aircraft have approximately
two tons of cargo capacity on
the route.
Ethiopian Airlines follows
Turkish Airlines which
launched direct flights between
Istanbul and Durban recently
while Qatar Airways launched
its first direct flight from Doha
to Durban in mid-December.
CAPTION
Ethiopian Airlines … now flying to Durban three times a week.
