Ethiopian Airlines links Shanghai to Africa

Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET684 arrives at Shanghai Pudong International Airport yesterday. - Xinhua -
Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET684 arrives at Shanghai Pudong International Airport yesterday. – Xinhua –

Ethiopian Airlines Sunday launched a new direct route linking Shanghai to Addis Ababa.

The 10-hour flights depart the Ethiopian capital at 11:30pm daily and return from Pudong International Airport at 12:35am.

The route is the first direct air link between Shanghai and Africa, and provides passengers with a stepping stone to several other African cities, including Nairobi in Kenya, Johannesburg in South Africa and Entebbe in Uganda.

The airline flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the route, which offer 24 business class and 246 economy class seats.

The direct flight is expected to enhance economic cooperation between China and Africa, Tewolde Gebre Mariam, chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, said.

In 1973, the carrier became the fourth foreign airline to establish links with the Chinese mainland when it launched a non-direct flight between Addis Ababa and Shanghai, via Mumbai.

Source: China News Service (CNS)