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Ethiopian Airlines is planning to operate daily flights on the Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv route, however this is conditional on Ben Gurion Airport opening up to night time departures.  This was the statement from Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam who arrived in Israel for the annual conference between Ethiopian Airways representatives and a group of leading travel agents.

“We have the permission to operate daily flights to Israel, the problem is with the slots” explained Gebremariam.  He added that while Ben Gurion Airport is closed to nighttime departures, it increases the number of unprofitable flights for Ethiopian Airlines because aircraft are forced to stay on the ground for up to 21 hours a day.

The chief operating officer of Ethiopian Airlines arrived in Israel for a brief visit in order to participate in the annual meeting of leading travel agents and revealed that the demand for flights to and from Israel warranted daily flights as this was one of Ethiopian Airlines most successful routes as far as demand is concerned; but that it was not possible to make maximum potential of the airline’s fleet.

Ethiopian Airlines operates 4 weekly flights on the Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv route on aircraft type Boeing 757.  It is also the only gateway to 34 destinations on the African continent.  Gebremariam explained that Ethiopian Airlines does not have a monopoly on the route to Africa; with competition from Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and El Al with flights to Johannesburg.

Gebremariam indicated that the price of fuel to Africa was more expensive than to Europe and also added “Zero commission? Ethiopian Airlines is not leading this move or in any other market in the world, although on the other continents this is already being applied. ” Gebremariam also revealed that the airline would shortly be joining the Star Alliance.

The managing director of Ethiopian Airlines in Israel also made a speech praising the 18 leading travel on their cooperation over many years.