(Jan 03, 2011, Alex Thomas, Addis Ababa)--Star Alliance's stated intention of "bringing Africa to the world and the world to Africa" has been boosted by the entry of Ethiopian Airlines into its fold.
In successfully courting Ethiopia's flag carrier, Star has met its ambition to develop its network in the growing African marketplace.
Ethiopian has expanded Star's network in East, central and West Africa and brings 23 new destinations including Chad, Djibouti and Niger.
Speaking at an introduction ceremony for the airline held at Addis Ababa's Bole airport in Ethiopia, Star's outgoing chief executive Jan Albrecht said: "Today we have taken a large step forward in completing our African strategy." He said that as a result of Ethiopian joining, Star now offered its passengers "the widest choice of flights connecting to, from and within Africa" out of the three global alliances.
Star's African coverage extends to 750 daily flights to more than 110 destinations in 48 countries. Its member airlines have access to hubs in the north, centre and south of the continent, Cairo, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg.
Air China looking to use these hubs to expand into what it sees as a promising market between Asia and Africa. Its chairman Kong Dong said in Addis Ababa that he expected his airline to launch direct routes to the continent in the next year or two.
Ethiopian is similarly effusive about the potential of this fledgling market and intends to develop further routes between Africa and Asia. Ethiopian's chief executive Teowolde Gebremariam said developing routes and frequencies between the two continents was the airline's principal growth objective.
He added that the Ethiopian flag carrier was studying possible routes to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul and that the carrier would use its soon-to-be delivered Boeing 787s to open these routes and existing destinations in Asia. He said that Addis Ababa was a more efficient hub to connect many destinations in the two continents than those in the Middle East.
Source: Flight Global
In successfully courting Ethiopia's flag carrier, Star has met its ambition to develop its network in the growing African marketplace.Ethiopian has expanded Star's network in East, central and West Africa and brings 23 new destinations including Chad, Djibouti and Niger.
Speaking at an introduction ceremony for the airline held at Addis Ababa's Bole airport in Ethiopia, Star's outgoing chief executive Jan Albrecht said: "Today we have taken a large step forward in completing our African strategy." He said that as a result of Ethiopian joining, Star now offered its passengers "the widest choice of flights connecting to, from and within Africa" out of the three global alliances.
Star's African coverage extends to 750 daily flights to more than 110 destinations in 48 countries. Its member airlines have access to hubs in the north, centre and south of the continent, Cairo, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg.
Air China looking to use these hubs to expand into what it sees as a promising market between Asia and Africa. Its chairman Kong Dong said in Addis Ababa that he expected his airline to launch direct routes to the continent in the next year or two.
Ethiopian is similarly effusive about the potential of this fledgling market and intends to develop further routes between Africa and Asia. Ethiopian's chief executive Teowolde Gebremariam said developing routes and frequencies between the two continents was the airline's principal growth objective.
He added that the Ethiopian flag carrier was studying possible routes to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul and that the carrier would use its soon-to-be delivered Boeing 787s to open these routes and existing destinations in Asia. He said that Addis Ababa was a more efficient hub to connect many destinations in the two continents than those in the Middle East.
Source: Flight Global
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