Ethiopian Opens Northern Regions to Khartoum

Ethiopian Airlines has launched direct flights to the Sudanese capital Khartoum from two provincial cities in the north of the country to enhance tourism and business links between the two countries.

The new flights from Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara region and Mekele, in the Tikray region, were launched on October 13 and are being flown four times weekly using a Bombardier Dash 8-Q400. They represent a slight change in network philosophy by the carrier as it only has one other international flight that is not operated from its Addis Ababa, a link into to neighboring Djibouti from Dire Dawa.

“Ethiopian Airlines has long been flying from Addis Ababa to Khartoum. The new direct flight services between Mekele, Khartoum and Bahir Dar will enhance the ever increasing economic, social and political ties of the two nations,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines. “Tourists, business people and all other travelers from the Sudan and other parts of the world will now have an easy and direct link to the fascinating tourist destinations of Northern Ethiopia.”

The flights offer improved links to the many tourist locations in this part of Ethiopia and the airline hopes increasing number of Sudanese will be encouraged to make the journey thanks to the availability of direct air services.

This region of Ethiopia is home to nine world heritage sites and visitors can view the source of Blue Nile and Tisisat Falls via Bahir Dar and the Nejashi Mosque, the first mosque in Africa built in the 7th century AD, via Mekele.

Ethiopian Airlines already serves Bahir Dar from Addis Ababa with a twice daily flight as well as offering a domestic link to Lalibela. Mekele is linked three times daily with Addis Ababa and also to Humera and Indaselassie.