Ethiopian Airlines launches non-stop flights between Addis Ababa and Toronto

Ethiopian Airlines made its maiden flight to Toronto last week landing at Pearson International Airport. Toronto will be the second destination for the airline in North America in addition to Washington D.C.

The flight between Addis Ababa and Toronto will be the only direct air link between Africa and Toronto and will save passengers from the need to procure transit visas, change of aircraft, long transit times and security inspections according to Tewolde Gebremairam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.

The flight was commemorated by an event attended by Ethiopian Minister of Transport Ato Deriba Kuma; Canadian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ms. Michèle Lévesque; Mayor of Mississauga (City in which the Pearson Airport is situated), Mrs. Hazel McCallion, and the President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Mr. Howard Eng.

The launch of non stop flight service to Africa is important to Toronto and is a major milestone said Eng. It is expected that the newly established flight link will enhance trade links between Ethiopian and Canada connecting the significant numbers of Ethiopian in the Toronto area as well as opening large markets for business links.

Ethiopian airlines has landing rights for two weekly flights but hopes to acquire more landing rights in the coming months.