Ethiopian Airlines to introduce direct flights to Victoria Falls

Ethiopian Airlines (E.T) has confirmed that it will be introducing direct flights between Addis Ababa and Victoria Falls by the end of April next year to promote the movement of tourists between the two countries.

The development was announced at the 48th African Airlines Association annual general assembly which has ended in Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls will become the airline`s second Zimbabwean destination as it is already operating 11 flights per week to Harare using a Boeing 737, 787 and777-200 aircraft.

The air service will become the first long haul flight from the resort town from which foreign airlines currently operate flights to Johannesburg, South Africa and Windhoek in Namibia.

It will become the 4th foreign airline flying directly to the resort town alongside South African Airways, British Airways-Comair and Air Namibia.

According to Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) general manager Mr David Chaota, the move by E.T is encouraging because it is a reflection that Victoria Falls International Airport now meets the standards required by the big players in the airline industry.

E.T will be the first to ply the route following the expansion of Victoria Falls International Airport at a cost of US$150 million.

A local low cost airline, Fly Africa is working out modalities to bounce back into the market while another local player rainbow airlines is expected to commence flights soon.

The CAAZ is on a drive to lure international airlines to fly to the resort town as the airport now the capacity to handle three wide bodied air craft such as the Boeing 747-400 at any one time.