The home-based staff of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday 28th September, 2009 held fruitful discussions with the Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Girma Wake on plans for the Ethiopian Airlines carrier to commence flights to Freetown.
The meeting was held at the Office of the Ethiopian Airlines head office in Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa.
The meeting was necessitated against the backdrop that Ethiopian Airlines has slated to commence regular flights to neighbouring Republic of Guinea and Liberia starting 1st October, 2009 leaving out Sierra Leone.
The Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive was informed that for reasons of proximity it would be better if Freetown was brought on board the West African arrangement.
Responding, Mr. Wake assured the staff members that their representation will be given serious consideration even though at the moment his airline is constrained with the availability of flights and personnel. He added however that the situation would be remedied very soon. In this vain, he explained that arrangements are underway for Ethiopian Airlines to commence flights to Freetown by mid November or the first week of December latest.
He further stated that the Airline would start with two flights weekly and it would be increased to thrice weekly.
The route would be Addis Ababa-Lagos-Lome-Freetown. The leg from Addis Ababa to Lome would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines while the Lome to Freetown route would be under the auspices of ASKAI Airlines also operated by Ethiopian Airlines.
ASKAI Airlines is operating a 737 New Generation Jet.
Abdul Karim Koroma
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Cell: +251 910853476
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