Ethiopian Adds Cotonou to African Network

African carrier Ethiopian Airlines is to inaugurate flights to Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, as it further expands its network in West Africa. The airline will offer a three times weekly service from its hub in Addis Ababa with effect from June 15, 2012 using one of its Boeing 737-700 fleet.

“Ethiopian Airlines offers easy and convenient access to East-West and North-South African destinations through its strategic hub in Addis Ababa. The new service to Benin will further strengthen Ethiopian Airlines' presence in the West African markets by widening flight options to its passengers," said Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines.

The Republic of Benin is a small but influential country in West Africa, with a significant amount of trade activity. Ethiopian Airlines will serve Cotonou as a stop on its existing link between Addis Ababa and Adidjan. Currently this route is operated via Ouagadougou, but the Burkina Faso capital will now get its own direct link to Ethiopia from June 15, 2012, initially on a four times weekly basis but increasing to a daily schedule from August 13, 2012.

Looking at next month’s weekly seat capacity, Ethiopian Airlines is the sixth largest carrier in the African market with 663 weekly flights within the continent offering over 76,000 seats.