/To the heart of Africa
A LANDMARK new route that is set to connect the north to the heart of Africa has launched in Manchester.
Ethiopian Airlines’ inaugural flight to Addis Ababa launched from Manchester Airport last week.
The four-times-a-week service is being hailed as hugely significant in unlocking vital economic, trade and investment opportunities.
The route, which is the only direct link to Sub Saharan Africa from the north, has been welcomed by northern businesses and organisations at a celebration event to mark the pivotal new route.
Jeremy Lefroy MP, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ethiopia, was among the special guests at the airport, ahead of the first flight.
He says Ethiopia will be “key” as the UK looks to strengthen its relationship with the African continent.
He said: “Addis Ababa is the biggest hub for the whole of Africa, so I think it’s going to open up great opportunities both for businesses in the north west and beyond, and for tourists.
“I think not just for the north west, but the Midlands, and the North East and Scotland there’s a very, very large catchment area for Manchester Airport.
“I was very glad to see that UK trade with Ethiopia increased by 60 per cent last year. That was extraordinary, but it’s £700m, so it shows that enormous potential that is there, trading with a country of more than 100 million, which is one of the fastest growing countries in the world.
“It’s a significant link, not just with Ethiopia but with the whole of Africa, because Ethiopian Airlines has by far the biggest route network, throughout Sub Saharan Africa.”
The airline flies to more destinations in Africa than any other carrier and will operate the service on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, on the ultramodern B-787 Dreamliner.
The route opens up 60 connections across Africa including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania.
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer of Manchester Airport, said: “This absolutely strengthens our position to open up those long haul routes that Manchester, maybe in the past, wasn’t traditionally associated with.
“We know that there are about 400,000 passengers in our catchment area who currently travel to Addis Ababa and they don’t go through Manchester, they are spending more money and time to get there, so this is a vital connection for those passengers.”
The route has also been welcomed by Lemn Sissay MBE, the chancellor of The University of Manchester, which now offers scholarships to Ethiopian students who wish to study in the UK.
He said: “To be considered a truly global city Manchester needs to be open to the world, especially Africa, and this is a massive step forward in that regard.”