Travel News South Africa

Ethiopian Airlines launches new airport terminal, hotel

Ethiopian Airlines has launched a state-of-the-art passenger terminal and a new Skylight Hotel.

After presiding over the ribbon-cutting event at the hotel, H.E. Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, accompanied by AU Chairperson and other dignitaries, toured the hotel's facilities including the spacious executive suites. Here, Abiy remarked: "Ethiopian Airlines is our national pride and a special icon among our companies as it carries our common name Ethiopia and our national flag."
Image Supplied.
Image Supplied.

"We would like all employees of the airline here and elsewhere to know that we speak of you with pride. The new hotel Ethiopian Airlines inaugurated will enable us to attract tourists, and the airline’s offer for employees to own shares of the hotel is important as it boosts the sense of ownership among staff which will serve as a model for other companies to emulate.

"What we learn from this inauguration of the new passenger terminal is that we have a lot of work ahead of us. We expect the board and management not to be complacent with the new terminal, but rather to aim for a bigger facility with a capacity to accommodate at least 100 million passengers."

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam said: "While Addis Ababa Airport overtook Dubai as the largest air transport hub between Africa and the rest of the world, this terminal building is further evidence of the development of Bole Airport as one of the largest and most convenient global aviation hubs.

"Ethiopian Skylight Hotel will enable the airline to offer packaged tour and travel programmes. Moreover, the hotel will enable Ethiopian Airlines to attract around a third of tourists out of the 6 million passengers transiting through Bole Airport to visit Ethiopia."

The Ethiopian Skylight Hotel features 373 guest rooms and executive suites, a Chinese restaurant - considered one of the largest in Africa - and a conference hall that can accommodate 2,500 people. While the new passenger terminal features the latest technology security systems, self-check-in machines, self-boarding system, comfortable lounges, duty-free shops and other amenities.

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