DHAKA: Water cannons were spouted as Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner Boeing 787 landing gears touched at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s (HSIA) taxiway marking the Africa’s largest carrier’s official entry into Bangladesh today. The inaugural flight ET 678 of Ethiopia Airlines arrived at HSIA at around 8:45 am from Addis Ababa receiving the ceremonial water cannon salute.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the return flight departed HSIA for Addis Ababa at around 9:44 am, initiating regular services between the two capitals. Operating five Addis Ababa-Dhaka-Addis Ababa flights weekly, Ethiopian Airlines offers Bangladeshi travellers seamless access to Africa and beyond, including over 140 destinations across Europe, North America, and other continents. The new service will see morning departures from Dhaka on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, along with evening departures on Mondays and Fridays.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiy
an, welcomed the Ethiopian Airlines delegation, led by Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority Director General Getachew Mengistie Alemayehu, comprised with Ethiopia Airline Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Lemma Yadecha, at the HSIA. In his remarks at the inaugural ceremony at HSIA’s conference room, Bhuiyan expressed optimism for Ethiopian Airlines’ impact on Bangladesh’s connectivity and growth. He emphasized the significance of the new route in fostering growth, highlighting the potential for increased trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority Director General Alemayehu expressed optimism for the route’s impact on socio-economic ties between the two nations aligning with Ethiopian Airlines’ motto – Connecting Continents, Cultures, and Communities. He said this launch provides not only a direct link between Bangladesh and Ethiopia but also a gateway to key destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
CAAB’s Member (Operations and Planning) Air Co
mmodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan, HSIA’s Executive Director, Group Captain Muhammed Kamrul Islam, and Managing Director of Rhythm Group, Ethiopian Airlines’ General Sales Agent in Bangladesh, Shohag Hossain, also spoke on the occasion. Hossain expressed confidence in the route’s potential to position Ethiopian Airlines as a top choice for Bangladeshi travellers.
With a fleet of 147 aircrafts, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest airline by passenger volume, destinations, fleet size, and revenue, and it ranks as the fourth-largest globally in terms of countries served. Already an established player in South Asia, with routes to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Karachi, the addition of Dhaka is a strategic advancement in the airline’s broader Asian expansion.