Ethiopian to start new flights to Hangzhou

Express travel world, April 08, 2011

Ethiopian Airlines unveiled its plan to commence new flight services to Hangzhou in China. Located in Zhejiang province, Hangzhou is famous for its picturesque scenery and rich history.

Hangzhou is a great alternative to the busy Shanghai airport for those travelling to/from Shanghai as it is only 45 minutes away via Shanghai–Hangzhou high-speed train. It is also ideally located for both business people and for traders.

Yiwu, a famous commodities trade center, is also only 100 kms away with convenient coach services from Hangzhou. Ethiopian’s new flight service to Hangzhou provides travellers from all over Africa an easy and fast way to the strategic Chinese business hub of Shanghai and Yiwu.

Ethiopian Airlines has also been providing chartered cargo services to/from China. With the opening of the third new destination in Mainland China, the airline will expand passenger and cargo handling services to traders, business people and tourists from China to Africa and vise versa via Addis Ababa.

In addition to the five weekly flights to Hangzhou, Ethiopian provides daily services to Beijing and Guangzhou.

“This new operation to Hangzhou reinforces our commitment to the Chinese travelling public and the strong ties between China and Africa,” said Gobena Mikael, acting chief commercial officer and senior VP Global Sales of Ethiopian Airlines.

Ethiopian Airlines is the first African airlines to connect the Peoples Democratic Republic of China to Africa with its first flight to Beijing on November 7, 1973.