If you go: Travel tips for hot spots
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Airlines flies directly to Addis Ababa from Washington, D.C., and there are connecting flights with Continental in London. Call 1-800-445-2733; www.flyethiopian.com
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Ethiopia is Voted One of Frommer's Top 12 Travel Destinations for 2007
NEW YORK CITY -- December, 2006 -- Frommer’s Travel Guides, one of the world’s leaders in travel planning guides and resources, and Frommers.com, an essential online destination for those planning the perfect travel excursions, have announced that Ethiopia is one of the top ten travel destinations for 2007. This year, the editors at Frommer's Travel Guides and Frommers.com scoured the globe and polled their stable of authors and experts to identify twelve surprising, thriving, or emerging travel destinations.
After careful thought and consideration, the editors from Frommer’s proclaimed that Ethiopia is one of their top picks of the places not to be missed in 2007. It’s important to remember that Frommers.com is the preemminent source that allows thousands of travelers to easily find candid, timely articles written by Frommers.com experts about destinations around the world.
The selection of Ethiopia as one of their top travel destinations is not a surprising choice to us, but it may be to others, but Frommers.com states that Ethiopia is finally emerging out of the shadows caused by years of political strife and economic hardship. Improved infrastructure has made traveling there increasingly popular, especially among independent-minded travelers and those seeking adventure. Ethiopia is revered for its rich history as one of the earliest Christian kingdoms (the town of Axum is said to be the home of the ancient Ark of the Covenant). Visit the monolithic churches of Lalibela -- in particular the Church of St. George, named after Ethiopia's patron saint, which is carved into the shape of a cross from a rock mountain and is perhaps the most exquisite of the monolithic structures. Visitors seeking additional information can refer to ethiopianairlines.com or refer back to frommers.com for their online-only guide to Ethiopia appearing in 2007.
Ethiopian Airlines Offers Exciting NEW Tour Packages
This outstanding recognition by Frommer’s continues to help promote that Ethiopia has tremendous cultural and religious appeal for US travelers. Mekonnen Abebe, Director of North America for Ethiopian Airlines said, “Ethiopia is indeed an amazing country with so many wonders and a rich history. I take great pride in seeing that a prestigious travel guide like Frommer’s understands so much of what my country offers, and felt that it deserved this tremendous recognition.” And with the growing awareness due to stories such as these, more sophisticated travelers will discover Ethiopia, as a country that has intrigued visitors literally since the beginning of time. To help visitors discover the wonders and magic of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines has developed exciting new packages designed with international appeal. The programs and tours feature carefully designed itineraries that make even the most jaded traveler stand up and take notice. The new Ethiopian Airlines packages and tours include 1) The History and Magic of Ethiopia; 2) Ethiopia – The Total Tour: From North to South; 3) Historic Ethiopia & Kenya Safari Tour and 4) Historic North Ethiopia and the Tanzania Expedition. For more information, contact your favorite travel agent or visit Ethiopian Airlines online at www.ethiopianairlines.com
About Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines is one of the largest airlines in Africa and features four weekly flights from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport The airline offers both morning and evening departures, with the morning departure allowing seamless connections to 28 African destinations. The airline’s website, www.ethiopianairlines.com provides excellent information on additional flights, services and special web fares. Ethiopian Airlines provides seamless connections to 45 destinations around the globe including 28 in Africa via its Addis Ababa hub. Major destinations served include: Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Bamako, Bangkok, Beijing, Beirut, Brazzaville, Brussels, Bujumbura, Cairo, Dakar, Dar Es-Salaam, Delhi, Djibouti, Douala, Dubai, Entebbe, Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Harare, Hargiesa, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lome, London, Luanda, Lusaka, Mumbai, Nairobi, N'djamena, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Tel-Aviv, and Washington, D.C. Learn more about Ethiopian Airlines at www.ethiopianairlines.com
After careful thought and consideration, the editors from Frommer’s proclaimed that Ethiopia is one of their top picks of the places not to be missed in 2007. It’s important to remember that Frommers.com is the preemminent source that allows thousands of travelers to easily find candid, timely articles written by Frommers.com experts about destinations around the world.
The selection of Ethiopia as one of their top travel destinations is not a surprising choice to us, but it may be to others, but Frommers.com states that Ethiopia is finally emerging out of the shadows caused by years of political strife and economic hardship. Improved infrastructure has made traveling there increasingly popular, especially among independent-minded travelers and those seeking adventure. Ethiopia is revered for its rich history as one of the earliest Christian kingdoms (the town of Axum is said to be the home of the ancient Ark of the Covenant). Visit the monolithic churches of Lalibela -- in particular the Church of St. George, named after Ethiopia's patron saint, which is carved into the shape of a cross from a rock mountain and is perhaps the most exquisite of the monolithic structures. Visitors seeking additional information can refer to ethiopianairlines.com or refer back to frommers.com for their online-only guide to Ethiopia appearing in 2007.
Ethiopian Airlines Offers Exciting NEW Tour Packages
This outstanding recognition by Frommer’s continues to help promote that Ethiopia has tremendous cultural and religious appeal for US travelers. Mekonnen Abebe, Director of North America for Ethiopian Airlines said, “Ethiopia is indeed an amazing country with so many wonders and a rich history. I take great pride in seeing that a prestigious travel guide like Frommer’s understands so much of what my country offers, and felt that it deserved this tremendous recognition.” And with the growing awareness due to stories such as these, more sophisticated travelers will discover Ethiopia, as a country that has intrigued visitors literally since the beginning of time. To help visitors discover the wonders and magic of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines has developed exciting new packages designed with international appeal. The programs and tours feature carefully designed itineraries that make even the most jaded traveler stand up and take notice. The new Ethiopian Airlines packages and tours include 1) The History and Magic of Ethiopia; 2) Ethiopia – The Total Tour: From North to South; 3) Historic Ethiopia & Kenya Safari Tour and 4) Historic North Ethiopia and the Tanzania Expedition. For more information, contact your favorite travel agent or visit Ethiopian Airlines online at www.ethiopianairlines.com
About Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines is one of the largest airlines in Africa and features four weekly flights from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport The airline offers both morning and evening departures, with the morning departure allowing seamless connections to 28 African destinations. The airline’s website, www.ethiopianairlines.com provides excellent information on additional flights, services and special web fares. Ethiopian Airlines provides seamless connections to 45 destinations around the globe including 28 in Africa via its Addis Ababa hub. Major destinations served include: Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Bamako, Bangkok, Beijing, Beirut, Brazzaville, Brussels, Bujumbura, Cairo, Dakar, Dar Es-Salaam, Delhi, Djibouti, Douala, Dubai, Entebbe, Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Harare, Hargiesa, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lome, London, Luanda, Lusaka, Mumbai, Nairobi, N'djamena, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Tel-Aviv, and Washington, D.C. Learn more about Ethiopian Airlines at www.ethiopianairlines.com
Friday, December 01, 2006
Creating "Zero" in the Amharic /Ge'ez/Ethiopic Numeric System
Creating "Zero" in the Amharic /Ge'ez/Ethiopic Numeric System
Amdework Mitiku, January 21, 2000 (original project 1996)
1.1. The Amharic/Geez/Ethiopic numeric system
1.2. Why do I spend so much time on "0", when others are doing more tangible things?
2.1. Why is the Amharic/Geez numeric system not involved in today's technology?
2.2. Creating Zero in the Amharic/Geez numeric system
2.2.. Why I choose this symbol?
Creating "Zero" in the Amharic /Ge'ez Numeric System
By Amdework Mitiku, January 21, 2000
A few years ago, I started a project called "Introducing 'zero' in the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system," and I posted the central idea of my project on the Internet, promising to follow this up with an in-depth coverage at a later stage. Ever since I first did this, the response I have been getting has been beyond my wildest expectations. I believe that part of the reason for amount of support I have been able to attract is because I was able to have easy access to people around the world with out leaving my computer desk. However, up to this point, my own response to the feedback has not been as prompt as I would have liked because of time constraints. I believe that the opportune moment I have been waiting for has now arrived, and I am ready to share my ideas with everyone.
The Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system
Like any other widely used language, it is possible to write and read the Amharic/Ge'ez language with out any significant problems. The problem, however, is that the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system does not start from zero. Instead, it starts from the number "one" and goes to infinity. The Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system has specific symbols which correspond to the Arabic numerals "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7","8", and "9". The problem, however, concerns numbers which consist of two or more digits one or more of which may be a "zero".
alt="Click here to join amharickeybaord">Click to join amharickeybaord
The ancient Ethiopians got around this problem by inventing specific symbols for numbers like 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 1000. This was an ingenious way of circumventing this problem, but the difficulty with this is that such a system involves more than twenty basic symbols, or roughly twice as many as is the case in the English numeric system. Thus, when a person wants to write any number which has more than one digit, he/she has to use a combination of one or more symbols. For instance, whereas in English "twelve" would be represented by writing "1" followed by "2", in Amharic, this is done by writing the symbol for "10" followed by "2". Likewise, if one wanted to represent "thirty-four" in Amharic, he/she would have to use the symbol for "30", followed by "4", rather than writing "3" followed by "4". Or, if the value in question is, say, "one hundred forty-five", this is represented by writing the symbol for "100" followed by the symbol for "40", followed by the symbol for "5", rather than writing "1" followed by "4" and "5". Thus, in the Amharic numeric system, there is no possibility of denoting zero, decimal or negative values. I think, 3000 years ago, nobody worried about representing "zero," because "0" is empty or null. Even today, it is not readily apparent to the average person why "0" is significant, because it stands for "nothing". In reality, however, "0" is a powerful number, and I believe that today's society is highly dependent on its representation. It is worth pointing out that the significance of "0" during the Roman Empire is not the same as the role it has come to play in the 21st century
Why do I spend so much time on "0", when others are doing more tangible things?
I first started thinking about this concept one afternoon while I was attending a new class called " Digital Electronics". Even though I had taken several classes in electricity and science, the digital electronics concept was new to me, and it was hard to grasp. I remember, that day, the professor had to spend the whole class time just talking about "0" and "1". That was just the start, and I spent all my classes just studying about "1" and "0". I wrote read, heard, counted, deleted, added, subtracted, divided and multiplied these numbers several times. The more I read, the more I liked these two numbers. But one of the most striking things I encountered was when I tried to relate this knowledge to my own language. I discovered that there was no way to apply this marvelous concept to the Amharic/ Ge'ez numeric system, unless I borrowed a symbol for "0" from another language. But that was what exactly I saw in Amharic newspapers, personal letters, magazines and several works of literature.
I hated the idea of borrowing anything from another language, when we could use our own. However this consideration did not stop me from thinking about the possibility of introducing binary digits to the Amharic numeric system. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. But I asked myself how? There was no ready-made answer, except one, which may prove to be unacceptable to some people. The solution which presented itself was to introduce the concept of, and a symbol for, "0" in the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system. Some of us my never think about the existence of "zero" in the Amharic/Ge'ez language, or some might laugh out loud and say
"What the hell is he talking about?" Alternatively, I thought, some may be as intrigued by this concept as I was, and send me some feedback. That was exactly what I got from my family members, friends, coworkers and other people who read and heard about my idea. Even though I got a mixed message, most people supported my idea.
My "Digital Electronics" class was not confined to simply talking about "1" and "0" as an academic exercise, but it was also concerned with the widespread implications of binary digits in today's technological revolution. Given the powerful impact of binary digits, I could not help wondering how long it would be before the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system stopped borrowing numbers form the English language for mathematics, science, engineering, and several other applications. One thing is clear, if there is no "0", there will not be any digital application. So, how can the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system participate in an increasingly digital world?
Well, the answer is simple and logical. I still remember what I learned in my elementary school Amharic course about the nature of language. Language, I was taught, is like a living creature, and it will pass three main stages--it will be born, grow and, if it is not properly nurtured, die. So if we do not act on time, sooner or later, part of our language will "go down to the drain". To be more blunt, unless certain measures are taken, the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system will face its last stage; it will die. So the fate of the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system is in the hands of its users. We are responsible for the creation and destruction of our language. I believe that introducing "0" into the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system will bring our language popularity.
The foregoing discussion focused mainly on the implications of the situation with respect to digital technology. However, while it was the most compelling reason that provided the impetus for this project, it is by no means the only reason. Soon after I came up with the idea, I started reviewing documents which are written in Amharic, including in newspapers, magazines, and personal letters. I even went as far back as my elementary, junior and high school days. I could not remember a single attempt by any one in school to use the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system in mathematics, science or any other courses as a means of expressing numeric value. The classes I took, the papers I read, the prices I saw in markets and shops, the menus that I was shown in restaurants, and several other texts written in Amharic did not use the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system. The only exception to all this has been the fact that Ethiopian calendars tend to use both the Arabic and Ethiopian numeric symbols. But why?
Why is the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system not involved in today's technology?
If you are an Amharic speaker or know about it, you may understand what I am trying to say. The use of the Amharic numeric system is limited to certain areas. One can write days, months, years, page numbers and a few other things using Amharic/Ge'ez numeric symbols, but, it is unimaginable to use this language to add or subtract a single number. Up to this point, as far as I know there is not a single stand-alone symbol that represents mathematical operations in Amharic/Ge'ez language (I am talking about +. -, X and ¸ ). Even if we borrow these mathematical symbols and try to perform any mathematical operations, we will still face another obstacle unless we create something. The problem is that we do not have symbols that can represent numbers which are less than zero, such as 0.5, 0.001, -12, -14.05 and so on. So what is the solution?
Creating Zero in the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system
Well, we need to come up with something that allows us to use this great language in today's computational society. Why should we borrow when we can use our own? That was my central idea, and this gave me the courage to come up with the notion of creating "0" in the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system. What I am saying is that we need to introduce a symbol that represents zero, or "bado" in Amharic.
Having a "0" symbol in our language will make the Amharic numeric system compatible with all languages. Before I came to this project, I talked to several people, including Amharic native speakers. Most of these people did not have any idea about the status of "0" in the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system, although they know the impact of "0" in today's society. Consequently, I got a mixed reaction from each group. Some of the people said that it was not a good idea to alter the language for the sake of technology, while others felt that it was an idea which might save the Amharic numeric system from disappearing.
From the beginning of the project, I did not expect to have full support from everyone. Instead, I opened my door to everybody, and I waited for their reaction and feedback. Thanks to new technology, I was able to reach several people without leaving my computer. I posted my idea in the Internet chat rooms and discussion forums, and I published it at my web site; this was by far the best alternative. I also had face-to-face discussions with several people, and their support and reaction was unbelievable. I think the support and the encouragement that I was getting from these people kept me going. More than 99 percent of the people supported my idea. Some of them even recommended other people who are involved in projects things across the world. However, managing time was a critical issue, especially when a person is doing more than ten projects at one time. I was tied up by other projects, and I could not contact as many people as I would have liked. In the end, by taking the people's input and feedback as well as by using my personal experience, I set myself the task of creating a "zero" or "null" symbol.
Why I choose symbol?
After comparing several promising symbols, I adopted the one which came closest to satisfying the following three criteria: I felt that the symbol I adopt had to be easy to create, easy to remember, and closely related to existing symbols.
If you take out the two horizontal lines from the top and the bottom, the symbol looks like tita(Greek latter) . In most cases, this symbol looks like the symbol used for an "empty set or null". Since "zero" is related to "empty", people will relate the symbol with it and will not find it difficult to remember it in the real world. If you see the symbols for "four" and "nine" in the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system, you will see some resemblance between these characters and the new symbol. "Four" looks an O , with two horizontal strikes, one at the top, and one at the bottom. Likewise, the symbol for "nine" is like q , without a top horizontal strike, or a U with a horizontal strike in the middle. Thus, if you examine the physical characteristics of the Amharic symbols for "4" and "9", you will find many similarities to the symbol I have adopted. By combining the physical characteristics of these two numbers and the logical meaning of the symbol, I came up with my "zero" symbol.
This character is also easy to write. One of the hardest things in the Amharic numeric system is the complexity of forming the characters, compared to the Arabic/English numeric characters. In contrast, writing the new symbol for "zero" will not involve that much complexity. All that a person has to do is draw a circle, draw a horizontal diametrical line, and add two additional horizontal lines, one at the top, and the other at the bottom.
I believe that the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system is a unique treasure for Ethiopians, as well as for the rest of the world, to preserve. I feel that our language is a survivor, and it has endured and developed for the last 3000 years. Hopefully, it will continue for another three millennia or more. By adding this new symbol to the numeric system, I believe that we will enrich the system and bring it in compliance with all other modern numeric systems. This, in turn, will allow it to be compatible with modern science and technology, and will provide the necessary impetus for people to use it more extensively than at the moment. Now, we can use our language in any scientific or mathematical operation. I am confident that a symbol for "zero" will signify a major breakthrough for the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system, and it will allow our system to compete with other languages.
As I am part of this society, I have the responsibility to protect my language from the danger of extinction. Amharic/Ge'ez letters are widely used, and they are not in any danger, but the numeric system is becoming less popular among the new generation. I asked several Ethiopians who consider themselves native speakers of Amharic about the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system, and the responses I obtained were as follows:
People over 40 can read almost all Ge'ez/ Amharic numeric characters, and have few problems on writing. People who are between the age of 30 and 40 are in the middle; more than half of them can read and write the numeric system with minimal error. On the other hand, when I asked people who are between the ages of 20 and 30 to read a these numbers, they did so only with considerable difficulty. Moreover, when I asked them to write any number, the result was disappointing. I found out that some people do not even want to see or talk about these numbers. These numbers are vanishing from the minds of such groups of people. People under 20 were the same as people between 20-30. As I did not expect these people to come up with a better response than the others, I got the result I expected, which was not it was not good.
In my survey I took the geographical location, family, school, culture, religion and other points as factors which contribute to differences in the level of exposure to the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system. For example, I did not expect to get the same answer from someone who took classes in a church school or from someone who was heavily influenced by the traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as from a person who went to a Catholic school. Going to the traditional school called "Kes Timihirt Bet", which is equivalent to a modern preschool, makes a big difference. Many of my contemporaries and I had to pass through this system at an early age, and people who went to these schools perform better than others who did not. My survey took this as a big factor. I never blame any person for not knowing the language as expected, but I blame some others. I think these groups are the one who will take the blame.
I believe that educational institutions bear a major responsibility for failing to promote the Amharic/Ge'ez numeric system assiduously enough. These include schools (from preschool to graduate school), the Ministry of Education, teachers, and those parents who are members of school committees. They are in a position to force these institutions to introduce classes which use our language and indigenous numeric system more extensively. But they did not, and they are still not doing anything. If they teach us, we could use it anywhere we go. However, I have never seen any school which spends a 50-minute class using the Amharic numeric system.
The second blame will go to the Ethiopian media, which includes magazines, newspapers, TV, radio, and books. These groups have not tried hard enough to capture our attention and encourage us to use our language as part of our day-to-day life. In this respect, I wish to thank the editors of Amharic newspapers like "Addis Zemen" and " Yezaryti Ethiopia" for using our indigenous numeric system on a regular basis. Unfortunately, there are many magazines which are published in Amharic, but, lately, it looks like the magazines and newspapers have purged the Amharic numeric system from their computers or printers. All of them are using the English numeric system in documents which are published in Amharic.
Next time I will be back with the second part of this article called " Digitizing the Amharic Language".
Thank you,
Amdework Mitiku
If you have any question about this project and would like to participate please write me at amde@yebbo.com or amdenet@yahoo.com.
Special thanks for those of you who helped me to make my project tangible. Special thanks to Dr. Adamu Walelign for editing my lengthy article and supporting me by giving feedback and his valuable advice.
God Bless You All !
This project is sponsored by
Yebbo Communication Network at www.yebbo.com
African Millennium Celebration For Ethiopia
Hardbeatnews, NEW YORK, N.Y., Fri. Dec. 1, 2006: Caribbean and other Rastafarians who believe that Haile Selassie, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, is the Black Messiah, now have a real opportunity to visit the land Selassie once called home.
The Third African Millennium festival is set for Ethiopia next September, organizers announced in New York this week. Ethiopia follows the original early Christian calendar and is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar making next year officially the new millennium according to this calculation.
The African Millennium Committee of New York and Philadelphia, in conjunction with The Ethiopian Literacy Organization, has joined with other Ethiopian organizations and Friends of Ethiopia throughout the world to celebrate the Third African Millennium from September 12th, 2007.
To commemorate the Millennium, the AMC has scheduled four conference trips to Ethiopia that are designed to showcase Ethiopian history, religion, culture and its contribution to world civilization and development. The conferences will coincide with the New Year Festival (Enkutatash), September 8th-19th, 2007, The Founding Day of the True Cross Festival (Maskal), September 24th-October 3rd, 2007, The Baptism Festival (Timqat), January 16th 25th, 2008, and the Easter Festival (Fasika), April 5th-16th, 2008.
Conferees will have an opportunity to visit unforgettable religious and archeological sites, including the early sites of the early humans, learn about ancient religious traditions and texts, participate in colorful sacred festivals, enjoy thrilling music, dance, delicious food, extraordinary shopping and meet friendly people.
Ethiopian Airlines is the official airline of The African Millennium and according to Mekonnen Abebe, the airline’s director for North America, People who may have had previously fabulous Millennium travels can now top it off with a trip to where the first remains of humankind were discovered. The ability to come full-circle, from the birthplace of civilization to the third Millennium, will allow visitors to have a remarkable experience, and have wonderful stories that only a privileged few will have the opportunity to share.”
Dr. Ephraim Isaac, noted Ethiopian scholar, a founder of the Harvard University Afro-American Studies Department, internationally recognized peacemaker, and Director of the Institute of Semitic Studies in Princeton, New Jersey, will lead the AMC delegation and deliver several talks on Ethiopia’s unique religious and cultural history as well as its untapped potential as a future leader of African development.
Dr. Isaac believes that Ethiopia, as the cradle of human history and once a leader of the ancient world, can and must assume its rightful place as a leader of today’s global community. It is hoped that the Millennium celebrations will, in some significant way, serve as a catalyst to renew and re-energize Africa, African-Americans and Africans throughout the Diaspora to work together in a quest to have Africa become a major player on the world stage. For more, log on to: www.africanmillennium.net. – Hardbeatnews.com
The Third African Millennium festival is set for Ethiopia next September, organizers announced in New York this week. Ethiopia follows the original early Christian calendar and is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar making next year officially the new millennium according to this calculation.
The African Millennium Committee of New York and Philadelphia, in conjunction with The Ethiopian Literacy Organization, has joined with other Ethiopian organizations and Friends of Ethiopia throughout the world to celebrate the Third African Millennium from September 12th, 2007.
To commemorate the Millennium, the AMC has scheduled four conference trips to Ethiopia that are designed to showcase Ethiopian history, religion, culture and its contribution to world civilization and development. The conferences will coincide with the New Year Festival (Enkutatash), September 8th-19th, 2007, The Founding Day of the True Cross Festival (Maskal), September 24th-October 3rd, 2007, The Baptism Festival (Timqat), January 16th 25th, 2008, and the Easter Festival (Fasika), April 5th-16th, 2008.
Conferees will have an opportunity to visit unforgettable religious and archeological sites, including the early sites of the early humans, learn about ancient religious traditions and texts, participate in colorful sacred festivals, enjoy thrilling music, dance, delicious food, extraordinary shopping and meet friendly people.
Ethiopian Airlines is the official airline of The African Millennium and according to Mekonnen Abebe, the airline’s director for North America, People who may have had previously fabulous Millennium travels can now top it off with a trip to where the first remains of humankind were discovered. The ability to come full-circle, from the birthplace of civilization to the third Millennium, will allow visitors to have a remarkable experience, and have wonderful stories that only a privileged few will have the opportunity to share.”
Dr. Ephraim Isaac, noted Ethiopian scholar, a founder of the Harvard University Afro-American Studies Department, internationally recognized peacemaker, and Director of the Institute of Semitic Studies in Princeton, New Jersey, will lead the AMC delegation and deliver several talks on Ethiopia’s unique religious and cultural history as well as its untapped potential as a future leader of African development.
Dr. Isaac believes that Ethiopia, as the cradle of human history and once a leader of the ancient world, can and must assume its rightful place as a leader of today’s global community. It is hoped that the Millennium celebrations will, in some significant way, serve as a catalyst to renew and re-energize Africa, African-Americans and Africans throughout the Diaspora to work together in a quest to have Africa become a major player on the world stage. For more, log on to: www.africanmillennium.net. – Hardbeatnews.com
Ethiopian leases new plane to meet demand
Published: 01-DEC-06
Addis Ababa - Due to the increasing number of its passengers, Ethiopian Airlines announced on Thursday it had leased a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft one a dry basis for long range flights.
Under the agreement with International Lease Financing Corporation (ILFC) of California, United States, the East African airline's cockpit crew would operate the aircraft to any scheduled destination, with its own cabin crew providing service on board.
Manufactured in October 1996, the 220-seater plane, with 190 Economy Class seats, was expected to meet Ethiopian's current capacity requirement, according to the airline management.
The aircraft left Amsterdam, Netherlands, at noon on Thursday and was scheduled to land at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on the same day at 21:45 local time.
Ethiopian and ILFC signed the five-year lease agreement on November 23 2006 in Addis Ababa. The deal would be effective on December 8. -panapress
Addis Ababa - Due to the increasing number of its passengers, Ethiopian Airlines announced on Thursday it had leased a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft one a dry basis for long range flights.
Under the agreement with International Lease Financing Corporation (ILFC) of California, United States, the East African airline's cockpit crew would operate the aircraft to any scheduled destination, with its own cabin crew providing service on board.
Manufactured in October 1996, the 220-seater plane, with 190 Economy Class seats, was expected to meet Ethiopian's current capacity requirement, according to the airline management.
The aircraft left Amsterdam, Netherlands, at noon on Thursday and was scheduled to land at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on the same day at 21:45 local time.
Ethiopian and ILFC signed the five-year lease agreement on November 23 2006 in Addis Ababa. The deal would be effective on December 8. -panapress
Monday, November 27, 2006
Amharic Translation Team
www.ethiotrans.com
Ethiotrans.com is on of the world leading Amharic Localization, translation and interpretation company. So far we have done more than 1 Million words of translation of various contents. These are some of the areas we are looking for content, including but limited Amharic clip video, the Ethiopian news in Amharic, ova Amharic, Amharic music, Amharic news, Amharic dictionary, ova Amharic news, Amharic language, ova Amharic radio, ova Amharic service, Amharic bible, Lonely planet Ethiopian Amharic phrasebook, Amharic English dictionary, ova in Amharic, Amharic now talk, Amharic font, Ethiopian Amharic music, concise Amharic dictionary, Amharic music video, Amharic cyber Ethiopia, Ethiopian Amharic news, concise Amharic dictionary Amharic English English Amharic, Amharic Amharic English English, Amharic radio, Amharic alphabet, learn Amharic, deutsche welle Amharic, news in Amharic, Amharic etv, ova radio Amharic program, Amharic software,
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Emirates to Fly Daily to Addis Ababa
Kaleyesus Bekele
Emirates started to fly to Addis Ababa in March 2006. The airline flies to Addis Ababa on Monday, Wednesday and Friday using an Airbus A340-300 aircraft. The Airline will add four additional flights to the existing three per week. It will provide a daily non-stop service as of December 1. Emirates has become a strong rival to Ethiopian Airlines.
"A growing focus on Africa with scheduled enhancements to the existing operations in Egypt, Ethiopia and Tanzania marks the start of Emirates' winter schedule," the Airline said. "Connections to East Africa will also improve as Emirates introduces direct non-stop flights between Dubai and Dar es Salaam, putting an end to the service which originally operated via Nairobi," it added. Currently, Dubai's trade with Africa is worth over 27 million dollars.
Emirates launched its operations in October 1985 with two leased aircraft. Today the Airline operates in 85 destinations with 92 aircraft. The Airline uses a mixed fleet comprising Boeing and Airbus aircraft. At Dubai 2005 International Aerospace Exhibition, Emirates announced firm orders for 42 B777 aircraft to be powered by GE90 jet engines, in a deal worth 9.7 billion dollars. The airline has also placed an order for 45 airbus A380 ultramodern Jumbo aircraft.
Emirates' current order book stands at 123 aircraft with a total value of 33 billon dollars. Emirates group, wholly owned by the Dubai government, announced, record net profit of 762 million dollars for the financial year ended March 2006. The group's total revenue has increased by 27 percent to 6.6 billion compared to last year
Emirates started to fly to Addis Ababa in March 2006. The airline flies to Addis Ababa on Monday, Wednesday and Friday using an Airbus A340-300 aircraft. The Airline will add four additional flights to the existing three per week. It will provide a daily non-stop service as of December 1. Emirates has become a strong rival to Ethiopian Airlines.
"A growing focus on Africa with scheduled enhancements to the existing operations in Egypt, Ethiopia and Tanzania marks the start of Emirates' winter schedule," the Airline said. "Connections to East Africa will also improve as Emirates introduces direct non-stop flights between Dubai and Dar es Salaam, putting an end to the service which originally operated via Nairobi," it added. Currently, Dubai's trade with Africa is worth over 27 million dollars.
Emirates launched its operations in October 1985 with two leased aircraft. Today the Airline operates in 85 destinations with 92 aircraft. The Airline uses a mixed fleet comprising Boeing and Airbus aircraft. At Dubai 2005 International Aerospace Exhibition, Emirates announced firm orders for 42 B777 aircraft to be powered by GE90 jet engines, in a deal worth 9.7 billion dollars. The airline has also placed an order for 45 airbus A380 ultramodern Jumbo aircraft.
Emirates' current order book stands at 123 aircraft with a total value of 33 billon dollars. Emirates group, wholly owned by the Dubai government, announced, record net profit of 762 million dollars for the financial year ended March 2006. The group's total revenue has increased by 27 percent to 6.6 billion compared to last year
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Lions Miss Out On Country's Tourism Growth
Addis Ababa
Despite Africa recording the World's fastest tourist growth for the second year running according to the UNWTO, and Ethiopia showing good progress too, one of the East Africa country's zoos has had to poison rare lions to make ends meet.
Lion Zoo in Addis Ababa has had to kill the country's treasured Abyssinian Lions as entrance fees did not cover the running costs.
Zoo administrator Muhedin Abdulaziz said the park only received $5000 at the gate, while it cost $6000 to run the zoo.
The zoo was poisoning the lions and selling the bodies to taxidermists for $170 each.
Growth in the tourism segment has not been enough to save the lions at the 58-year-old zoo. Unless the zoo quickly invests to ensure that more tourists visited the zoo, through marketing and facilty upgrades, the Abyssinian Lions may in the future only be found on national coins and statues.
Business in Africa
Sunday, November 19, 2006
The rise of the global airline alliance, the fall of the national carrier, and the fate of sovereignty in the skies
In 1945, Emperor Haile Selassie established Ethiopian Airlines (with the help of TWA), which the next year began flights from Addis Ababa to Cairo. As Anthony Sampson recounts in "Empires of the Sky," other African countries were so desperate to establish flag carriers that Royal Swazi operated a fleet with only two planes and Air Botswana just three; at its founding, Gambia Airways was known as "Gambia Stairways" because it did little more than service other airlines.
By Sasha Issenberg November 19, 2006
US AIRWAYS'S HOSTILE BID for Delta last week has ensured that talk of airline consolidation will fill the business pages well into the new year. It may have also assured that a quieter, yet perhaps equally significant, agreement between airlines may go unnoticed.Early next year, when Japan Airlines becomes a member of the Oneworld Alliance, an underappreciated chapter will close in the history of the airline industry -- and indeed in the history of the modern nation-state. JAL, the last large international airline to sign onto one of the three major cooperative partnerships, will join the smallest of them, currently dominated by British Airways and American Airlines. JAL's move marks the culmination of a decade-long flurry of agreements and treaties that have divided the air among Oneworld, c, and the Star Alliance in much the same way that the great powers divided the earth at the turn of the last century. It also marks the symbolic death of one of that era's defining institutions: the flag carrier.
In the 20th century, there was perhaps no more important trophy of sovereignty than the parastatal airline -- "the chosen instrument of the state," as Britain's Imperial Airways described itself in the 1930s, when Air France and the Soviet Union's Aeroflot also first took to the skies.
For the new countries of the post-imperial epoch, meanwhile, a state-owned airline, like sending an athlete to the Olympics and occupying a seat in the United Nations General Assembly, was an indispensable step on the road to statehood. In 1945, Emperor Haile Selassie established Ethiopian Airlines (with the help of TWA), which the next year began flights from Addis Ababa to Cairo. As Anthony Sampson recounts in "Empires of the Sky," other African countries were so desperate to establish flag carriers that Royal Swazi operated a fleet with only two planes and Air Botswana just three; at its founding, Gambia Airways was known as "Gambia Stairways" because it did little more than service other airlines.
Japan Airlines was founded in 1952, at the end of the United States' postwar occupation. The traditional crane on the tail of JAL aircraft was conceived as the aerodynamic ambassador of a peacetime nation with something of an image problem when it came to airplanes.
But where flags once ruled, now the skies belong to coalitions. Alliances have their origins in reciprocal frequent-flier exchanges and bilateral code-sharing practices that allow airlines to lease and sell seats on each others' flights. Such cooperation was pioneered by Northwest and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, whose 1991 pact permitted flyers to move (along with their luggage and a single ticket) between connecting flights on the two airlines as though they were a single carrier.
Today, such alliances offer economic efficiencies worth more than national pride. JAL spokesman Stephen Pearlman noted that Oneworld offers the prospect of combining sales and airport lounge operations. "Multilateral alliances have matured since they started some years ago," he said. They've also expanded their reach. Airtran and Frontier Airlines announced last week that they would forge the first alliance of low-cost carriers.
Countries that once wanted to impress with autonomy now are interested in displaying their integration in the global economy, and are looking to join alliances instead of hoisting their own flags. When, earlier this year, South Africa Airways became the first African carrier to join an alliance, local media trumpeted a national victory and Thabo Mbeki celebrated by welcoming Star Alliance executives to his presidential guesthouse.
This globalization of airline power has stripped airport concourses of their United Nations-like pageantry and replaced it with a bland iconography typical of transnational corporations. Travelers find themselves checking into Oneworld counters and having a cocktail in a Skyteam lounge and, increasingly, boarding a jumbo jet whose fuselage and tail are emblazoned not with the name and colors of a country but the Star Alliance insignia and its banal navy-and-white scheme. (The operating airline's logo usually remains in fine print below.)
But alliances pose more than just an aesthetic threat to national identity -- they can also lead to the type of industry consolidation that is putting parastatals out of business. Air France and KLM had already begun to integrate operations as Skyteam mates before the two joined in 2004, easing their way into a merger that created the largest airline company in the world. Sabena, the airline of neighboring Belgium, failed to join one of the major alliances, and folded in 2001.
Even though Air France and KLM continue to operate flights under their own brands, the planes next to them on European tarmacs are increasingly vagabond low-cost carriers like Easyjet and Vueling that project a studied placelessness. The most successful of them, the Dublin-based RyanAir, is now rumbling about acquiring Aer Lingus, Ireland's 70-year-old national airline.
There is still a place in which flyers, giddy with the thrills of statehood, cling eagerly to their new parastatals. At the newly rebuilt Sarajevo International Airport, where the airy departure hall and freshly pristine macadam are both free of the pockmarks that still pattern most Bosnian building surfaces, the arrivals board reads like a monument to the Balkans' nation-building success. There the nascent national airlines of young former Yugoslavian states -- Croatia Airlines, Slovenia's Adria Airways, Serbia's Jat Air, and Bosnia and Herzegovina's B&H Airlines, previously Air Bosna -- hold their own alongside the venerable flag carriers Alitalia, Turkish, and Malev Hungarian Airlines.
Amid blurred lines of religious and ethnic character, such public displays of national identity may be essential. Entangling empires, after all, sit ominously in Balkan memories. It was just a few miles from the airport where, in 1914, an Austro-Hungarian figurehead was shot for having the audacity to parade through Sarajevo on a Serbian national feast day.
Yet the Balkans will not likely be able to avoid the expansion of alliances for long. On Ferhadija, Sarajevo's main pedestrian strip, near the intersection where Austro-Hungarian paving stones auspiciously give way to Ottoman cobble, the shingle outside the Adria Airways sales office describes the company as a "Regional Member of the Star Alliance," a status it has held since 2004. Across the street, the Slovenian flagship's proud outpost is dwarfed by the oversized logos of Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, the alliance's Mitteleuropean full members. It is perhaps no coincidence Adria joined the Star Alliance the same year Slovenia acceded to the European Union.
In January, Slovenians -- after just 15 years of independence, following the fall of Yugoslavia -- will trade in their battered tolar coins for euros. For now, the news fills them with a new, postnationalist variety of pride: This summer, the Slovenian government hosted a street party in Brussels to celebrate. Any 21st-century country can have its own currency, after all, but paying with euros is for the select few, just as everyone from Bangladesh to Peru can claim a homegrown airline, but only the elite get to code-share with Singapore Airlines or United. Let's see how that warm feeling fares after some adverse decision made in Brussels or, perhaps, when the national beer on board is replaced with Heineken.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Ethiopian, Russian Agree to Manufacture Hydro Electric Power-Driven Buses
Ethiopian, Russian Agree to Manufacture Hydro Electric Power-Driven Buses
Addis Ababa, 14 November: Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise and two Russian companies signed an agreement providing for the assembling and manufacturing of hydro electric power-driven buses here at Ethiopian Investment Agency on Tuesday [14 November].
The accord was signed by Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise general manager, Engineer Getachew Eshetu, Trolza Company president, Pavel Berlin, and Rus-Afro-trol board head, Ayavazov Yury.
According to the agreement a company called Rus-Afro-trol would be established in a joint venture to assemble and promote the buses in Ethiopia and Africa as well.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Engineer Getachew said the buses would be the first in Africa.
The total capital of the project is 100m US dollar, he said, and added, that some 43 hectares of land has already been prepared to establish the assembling plant in Debremarkos town of the Amhara State [northwestern Ethiopia].
Getachew said the project would be started as of next January and assembling of the first buses would be finalized in six months time. Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise has 70 per cent ownership share of the company, while 30 per cent of the ownership belongs to the Russian companies, he said. The company has a capacity of assembling 500 buses per year, he said. When the project goes fully operational, it would create 500 jobs, Getachew added.
Speaking on his part, Pavel Berlin said the hydro power driven buses are environment-friendly and efficient in fuel consumption. The company has decided to erect the first plant in Ethiopia as it is the hub of Africa, he said, adding, the company has a plan to expand the service to other African countries in the future.
Speaking at the occasion Ethiopian Investment Agency director general, Abi Woldemeskel, said as Ethiopia is endowed with immense hydroelectric power the launching of the project is viable both economically and environmentally.
He said the agency would render the necessary assistance for the success of the project.
(c) 2006 BBC Monitoring Africa. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: BBC Monitoring Africa
Addis Ababa, 14 November: Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise and two Russian companies signed an agreement providing for the assembling and manufacturing of hydro electric power-driven buses here at Ethiopian Investment Agency on Tuesday [14 November].
The accord was signed by Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise general manager, Engineer Getachew Eshetu, Trolza Company president, Pavel Berlin, and Rus-Afro-trol board head, Ayavazov Yury.
According to the agreement a company called Rus-Afro-trol would be established in a joint venture to assemble and promote the buses in Ethiopia and Africa as well.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Engineer Getachew said the buses would be the first in Africa.
The total capital of the project is 100m US dollar, he said, and added, that some 43 hectares of land has already been prepared to establish the assembling plant in Debremarkos town of the Amhara State [northwestern Ethiopia].
Getachew said the project would be started as of next January and assembling of the first buses would be finalized in six months time. Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise has 70 per cent ownership share of the company, while 30 per cent of the ownership belongs to the Russian companies, he said. The company has a capacity of assembling 500 buses per year, he said. When the project goes fully operational, it would create 500 jobs, Getachew added.
Speaking on his part, Pavel Berlin said the hydro power driven buses are environment-friendly and efficient in fuel consumption. The company has decided to erect the first plant in Ethiopia as it is the hub of Africa, he said, adding, the company has a plan to expand the service to other African countries in the future.
Speaking at the occasion Ethiopian Investment Agency director general, Abi Woldemeskel, said as Ethiopia is endowed with immense hydroelectric power the launching of the project is viable both economically and environmentally.
He said the agency would render the necessary assistance for the success of the project.
(c) 2006 BBC Monitoring Africa. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: BBC Monitoring Africa
New 5-Star Hotel to Usher in Ethiopian Millennium
Hayal Alemayehu
Addis Ababa
Sporting a swimming pool at its top tenth floor, the first part of a new 400 million birr five-star hotel - Intercontinental Addis - will open its door for services before the New Ethiopian Millennium sets in, Project Manager Gudeta Regasa disclosed to The Daily Monitor.
The first phase of the hotel project, whose construction commenced ten months earlier at a 2346 square meters plot of land located around Kasanchese, in Kirkose sub-city, Kebele 17, will be completed in few months' time if all goes according to plan, Gudeta said.
Projected to consume 200 million birr, the hotel's first phase project will be a ten-story high building, which will have 151 rooms and suites, five restaurants, discotheque, gyms, sauna & steam baths, and Jacuzzis, with all the facilities meeting an international five-star hotel category standards, according to the Manager.
Compared to existing hotels in the country, Intercontinental Addis will, according to the Project Manager, entertain unique features which include transparent elevators, a tenth-floor swimming pool with a bar that serves customers while inside the pool, rooms and suites all operating with electronic-locking solution cards.
Presently, there are only two five-star hotels in the country, namely Sheraton Addis and Addis Ababa Hilton.
The new hotel, destined to be the third five-star resort in the country, is being erected and owned by J.H. Simex plc, a private local company active in export/import trade.
Upon completion of the first phase of the project, the hotel will start rendering services, while its second phase, which is also projected to cost 200 million birr, will commence, according to Company Proprietor Simachew Kebede.
2006 The Daily Monitor
Addis Ababa
Sporting a swimming pool at its top tenth floor, the first part of a new 400 million birr five-star hotel - Intercontinental Addis - will open its door for services before the New Ethiopian Millennium sets in, Project Manager Gudeta Regasa disclosed to The Daily Monitor.
The first phase of the hotel project, whose construction commenced ten months earlier at a 2346 square meters plot of land located around Kasanchese, in Kirkose sub-city, Kebele 17, will be completed in few months' time if all goes according to plan, Gudeta said.
Projected to consume 200 million birr, the hotel's first phase project will be a ten-story high building, which will have 151 rooms and suites, five restaurants, discotheque, gyms, sauna & steam baths, and Jacuzzis, with all the facilities meeting an international five-star hotel category standards, according to the Manager.
Compared to existing hotels in the country, Intercontinental Addis will, according to the Project Manager, entertain unique features which include transparent elevators, a tenth-floor swimming pool with a bar that serves customers while inside the pool, rooms and suites all operating with electronic-locking solution cards.
Presently, there are only two five-star hotels in the country, namely Sheraton Addis and Addis Ababa Hilton.
The new hotel, destined to be the third five-star resort in the country, is being erected and owned by J.H. Simex plc, a private local company active in export/import trade.
Upon completion of the first phase of the project, the hotel will start rendering services, while its second phase, which is also projected to cost 200 million birr, will commence, according to Company Proprietor Simachew Kebede.
2006 The Daily Monitor
Ethiopian Employees Elect New Board Reps
Feven Chane
The Ethiopian Airlines Board of Directors, on October 26, 2006, saw the replacement of three labour representatives who had served on the Board for the past five years.
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In accordance to elections that are held every five years, the employees voted-in were Reta Melaku and Theodros Balcha, both instructors from the Aviation Maintenance Training School (AMTS) and Alemayehu Assefa, IT System and operation manager.
They replace outgoing representatives Biniam Hirabo, director of Spray Service; Matewos Menu, director of Material Management and Girma Kumbi, a foreman in Aircraft Maintenance.
The election, which was organized by the Human Resources Department, took place at the Ethiopian Conference Centre on Algeria Avenue in Sidist Kilo.
A source from the Ethiopian Airlines Labour Union told Fortune that anyone that has worked with the Airline for a reasonable length of time and has good knowledge on the working environment of the entire operation in addition to their own line of responsibility are eligible for nomination.
The three outgoing representatives came to the job with more than 20 years of work experience with Ethiopian.
Matewos told Fortune that during the five years that he and his colleagues served on the 11-member Board - chaired by Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs - they had been able to play an important role in achieving a 20pc growth in the Airlines' profit and also managed to secure a 60pc salary increase for its employees over the span of two years. A 40pc raise was given in the fiscal year 2003 - 2004 and a 20pc increase in 2004 -2005.
He claimed that the Board was also responsible for having Ethiopian awarded the Best Airline Performance in Africa by The Africa Aviation Journal in 2006 and moreover oversaw the construction of the new cargo terminal from November 2003 to January 2006, as well as approved the purchase of the five Boeing Dreamliner aircrafts.
"We have fulfilled all of this during the past five years, which were the best performance years in the Airline's history. We leave our positions very much delighted," Matewos said.
The labour representatives on the Board serve as a managing body and are involved in handling large scale employee cases and incidents.
The Labour Union handles cases concerning labour rights and privileges. It ensures employee safety provision while on the job and salary increment. The union has 10 executive members and 10 general assembly members, with a reshuffle held every three years.
A member of the Union told Fortune that when conflicts of interest between them and the management arises; he said that in such incidents, they can call on the Board to find a resolution to the matter at hand.An Ethiopian Airlines staff member told Fortune that he believed that more ideas can be received from the new representatives, because two of them are instructors who interact with a wide spectrum of employees.
Also, this employee said, Theodros has been a member of the Labour Union this has proved himself to be a responsible worker. He said that he also felt confident because all three members were socially very active with the employees as well as the management.
Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945 and currently has 4,762 employees working in Ethiopia alone.
© 2006 Addis Fortune.
The Ethiopian Airlines Board of Directors, on October 26, 2006, saw the replacement of three labour representatives who had served on the Board for the past five years.
In accordance to elections that are held every five years, the employees voted-in were Reta Melaku and Theodros Balcha, both instructors from the Aviation Maintenance Training School (AMTS) and Alemayehu Assefa, IT System and operation manager.
They replace outgoing representatives Biniam Hirabo, director of Spray Service; Matewos Menu, director of Material Management and Girma Kumbi, a foreman in Aircraft Maintenance.
The election, which was organized by the Human Resources Department, took place at the Ethiopian Conference Centre on Algeria Avenue in Sidist Kilo.
A source from the Ethiopian Airlines Labour Union told Fortune that anyone that has worked with the Airline for a reasonable length of time and has good knowledge on the working environment of the entire operation in addition to their own line of responsibility are eligible for nomination.
The three outgoing representatives came to the job with more than 20 years of work experience with Ethiopian.
Matewos told Fortune that during the five years that he and his colleagues served on the 11-member Board - chaired by Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs - they had been able to play an important role in achieving a 20pc growth in the Airlines' profit and also managed to secure a 60pc salary increase for its employees over the span of two years. A 40pc raise was given in the fiscal year 2003 - 2004 and a 20pc increase in 2004 -2005.
He claimed that the Board was also responsible for having Ethiopian awarded the Best Airline Performance in Africa by The Africa Aviation Journal in 2006 and moreover oversaw the construction of the new cargo terminal from November 2003 to January 2006, as well as approved the purchase of the five Boeing Dreamliner aircrafts.
"We have fulfilled all of this during the past five years, which were the best performance years in the Airline's history. We leave our positions very much delighted," Matewos said.
The labour representatives on the Board serve as a managing body and are involved in handling large scale employee cases and incidents.
The Labour Union handles cases concerning labour rights and privileges. It ensures employee safety provision while on the job and salary increment. The union has 10 executive members and 10 general assembly members, with a reshuffle held every three years.
A member of the Union told Fortune that when conflicts of interest between them and the management arises; he said that in such incidents, they can call on the Board to find a resolution to the matter at hand.An Ethiopian Airlines staff member told Fortune that he believed that more ideas can be received from the new representatives, because two of them are instructors who interact with a wide spectrum of employees.
Also, this employee said, Theodros has been a member of the Labour Union this has proved himself to be a responsible worker. He said that he also felt confident because all three members were socially very active with the employees as well as the management.
Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945 and currently has 4,762 employees working in Ethiopia alone.
© 2006 Addis Fortune.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Ethiopia: Girma Advises Against 'Tit-for-Tat' On Kenyan Ban
Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web October 31, 2006
Issayas Mekuria
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, gave two pieces of advice to the Ethiopian authorities and members of the media during a press conference at the Sheraton on Saturday, October 28.
"Two wrongs do not make a right," answered Girma, when asked whether he wants retaliation by the Ethiopian government to what their counterparts have done in banning his airline from flying from Nairobi to African destinations such as Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
A bilateral agreement entered between Ethiopia and Kenya, and regional trade pact among all Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states require them to open their skies to airlines of each other countries. Ethiopian had for years picked up passengers from Nairobi and flown them to destinations of these East African nations. Nevertheless, three weeks ago, the Kenyan Ministry of Transport prohibited Ethiopia's flagship airline from flying anywhere else in Africa but Addis Abeba.
Kenyan officials were reciprocating for an Ethiopian ban on Kenyan Airways taking its passengers from Addis Abeba to Dubai and Jeddah.
"As far as I am concerned, these places are out of Africa," Girma told reporters, cautioning them not to "play this up out of proportion".
"We are not at war with the Kenyan Airways. Neither are our countries. It is only that the Kenyan authorities were misled by someone in the competition," Girma said.
He told reporters that Kenyan Airways is operating a flight from Addis to Djibouti, while his management has reserved from advising Ethiopian authorities to deny permits when they have applied for another destination from Addis Abeba. Recalling how Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa were the African nations that were pushing for more liberalized airline transport in Africa, Girma said he believes "the move will hurt Kenya more than anyone else."
Girma said he had talked to the Kenyan authorities following the ban and they did admit their mistakes.
"They said that they would reply in 10 days," Girma told reporters. "But, it's been three weeks now. I have still not heard anything from them."
Whether or not they respond or lift the ban, Girma said he is not interested to replay in kind.
"We oppose their decision not so much because we depend on the flight traffics going from Nairobi to these countries, but because principles need to be upheld," Girma said. "And we will under no circumstances stop Kenyan from flying to Djibouti or other African destinations from Addis Abeba."
He said African airlines who close their doors on others cannot ask others to open theirs. Although Girma believes that this was hardly a war between the two airlines or countries, he looked forward to the situation being eased.
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web October 31, 2006
Issayas Mekuria
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, gave two pieces of advice to the Ethiopian authorities and members of the media during a press conference at the Sheraton on Saturday, October 28.
"Two wrongs do not make a right," answered Girma, when asked whether he wants retaliation by the Ethiopian government to what their counterparts have done in banning his airline from flying from Nairobi to African destinations such as Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
A bilateral agreement entered between Ethiopia and Kenya, and regional trade pact among all Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states require them to open their skies to airlines of each other countries. Ethiopian had for years picked up passengers from Nairobi and flown them to destinations of these East African nations. Nevertheless, three weeks ago, the Kenyan Ministry of Transport prohibited Ethiopia's flagship airline from flying anywhere else in Africa but Addis Abeba.
Kenyan officials were reciprocating for an Ethiopian ban on Kenyan Airways taking its passengers from Addis Abeba to Dubai and Jeddah.
"As far as I am concerned, these places are out of Africa," Girma told reporters, cautioning them not to "play this up out of proportion".
"We are not at war with the Kenyan Airways. Neither are our countries. It is only that the Kenyan authorities were misled by someone in the competition," Girma said.
He told reporters that Kenyan Airways is operating a flight from Addis to Djibouti, while his management has reserved from advising Ethiopian authorities to deny permits when they have applied for another destination from Addis Abeba. Recalling how Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa were the African nations that were pushing for more liberalized airline transport in Africa, Girma said he believes "the move will hurt Kenya more than anyone else."
Girma said he had talked to the Kenyan authorities following the ban and they did admit their mistakes.
"They said that they would reply in 10 days," Girma told reporters. "But, it's been three weeks now. I have still not heard anything from them."
Whether or not they respond or lift the ban, Girma said he is not interested to replay in kind.
"We oppose their decision not so much because we depend on the flight traffics going from Nairobi to these countries, but because principles need to be upheld," Girma said. "And we will under no circumstances stop Kenyan from flying to Djibouti or other African destinations from Addis Abeba."
He said African airlines who close their doors on others cannot ask others to open theirs. Although Girma believes that this was hardly a war between the two airlines or countries, he looked forward to the situation being eased.
Ethiopia: Girma Advises Against 'Tit-for-Tat' On Kenyan Ban
Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web October 31, 2006
Issayas Mekuria
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, gave two pieces of advice to the Ethiopian authorities and members of the media during a press conference at the Sheraton on Saturday, October 28.
"Two wrongs do not make a right," answered Girma, when asked whether he wants retaliation by the Ethiopian government to what their counterparts have done in banning his airline from flying from Nairobi to African destinations such as Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
A bilateral agreement entered between Ethiopia and Kenya, and regional trade pact among all Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states require them to open their skies to airlines of each other countries. Ethiopian had for years picked up passengers from Nairobi and flown them to destinations of these East African nations. Nevertheless, three weeks ago, the Kenyan Ministry of Transport prohibited Ethiopia's flagship airline from flying anywhere else in Africa but Addis Abeba.
Kenyan officials were reciprocating for an Ethiopian ban on Kenyan Airways taking its passengers from Addis Abeba to Dubai and Jeddah.
"As far as I am concerned, these places are out of Africa," Girma told reporters, cautioning them not to "play this up out of proportion".
"We are not at war with the Kenyan Airways. Neither are our countries. It is only that the Kenyan authorities were misled by someone in the competition," Girma said.
He told reporters that Kenyan Airways is operating a flight from Addis to Djibouti, while his management has reserved from advising Ethiopian authorities to deny permits when they have applied for another destination from Addis Abeba. Recalling how Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa were the African nations that were pushing for more liberalized airline transport in Africa, Girma said he believes "the move will hurt Kenya more than anyone else."
Girma said he had talked to the Kenyan authorities following the ban and they did admit their mistakes.
"They said that they would reply in 10 days," Girma told reporters. "But, it's been three weeks now. I have still not heard anything from them."
Whether or not they respond or lift the ban, Girma said he is not interested to replay in kind.
"We oppose their decision not so much because we depend on the flight traffics going from Nairobi to these countries, but because principles need to be upheld," Girma said. "And we will under no circumstances stop Kenyan from flying to Djibouti or other African destinations from Addis Abeba."
He said African airlines who close their doors on others cannot ask others to open theirs. Although Girma believes that this was hardly a war between the two airlines or countries, he looked forward to the situation being eased.
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web October 31, 2006
Issayas Mekuria
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, gave two pieces of advice to the Ethiopian authorities and members of the media during a press conference at the Sheraton on Saturday, October 28.
"Two wrongs do not make a right," answered Girma, when asked whether he wants retaliation by the Ethiopian government to what their counterparts have done in banning his airline from flying from Nairobi to African destinations such as Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
A bilateral agreement entered between Ethiopia and Kenya, and regional trade pact among all Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states require them to open their skies to airlines of each other countries. Ethiopian had for years picked up passengers from Nairobi and flown them to destinations of these East African nations. Nevertheless, three weeks ago, the Kenyan Ministry of Transport prohibited Ethiopia's flagship airline from flying anywhere else in Africa but Addis Abeba.
Kenyan officials were reciprocating for an Ethiopian ban on Kenyan Airways taking its passengers from Addis Abeba to Dubai and Jeddah.
"As far as I am concerned, these places are out of Africa," Girma told reporters, cautioning them not to "play this up out of proportion".
"We are not at war with the Kenyan Airways. Neither are our countries. It is only that the Kenyan authorities were misled by someone in the competition," Girma said.
He told reporters that Kenyan Airways is operating a flight from Addis to Djibouti, while his management has reserved from advising Ethiopian authorities to deny permits when they have applied for another destination from Addis Abeba. Recalling how Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa were the African nations that were pushing for more liberalized airline transport in Africa, Girma said he believes "the move will hurt Kenya more than anyone else."
Girma said he had talked to the Kenyan authorities following the ban and they did admit their mistakes.
"They said that they would reply in 10 days," Girma told reporters. "But, it's been three weeks now. I have still not heard anything from them."
Whether or not they respond or lift the ban, Girma said he is not interested to replay in kind.
"We oppose their decision not so much because we depend on the flight traffics going from Nairobi to these countries, but because principles need to be upheld," Girma said. "And we will under no circumstances stop Kenyan from flying to Djibouti or other African destinations from Addis Abeba."
He said African airlines who close their doors on others cannot ask others to open theirs. Although Girma believes that this was hardly a war between the two airlines or countries, he looked forward to the situation being eased.
Ethiopia: Ethiopian Air Wins Award
Kampala)
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web November 1, 2006
Vision Reporter
Kampala
Ethiopian Airlines has been voted the "African Airline of the year 2006" by African Aviation Journal.
The carrier was chosen for its financial performance and overall profitability, passenger growth, route network expansion, fleet modernization, in-flight services, and overall customer care.
The award plaque was handed over to Ethiopian Airlines' chief executive officer, Girma Wake by Her Excellency Susan Mcdernoff, the deputy assistant secretary for aviation & international affairs at the African Aviation's 15th annual air finance for Africa conference in Cape Town, South Africa recently.
The African Aviation Awards were introduced by Aviation Journal in 1999 in order to give international recognition to those individuals, companies, and organizations that have made significant contributions to Aviation development in Africa.
It is a special privilege for Ethiopian Airlines to have been awarded African Airline of the Year 2006. The award inspires the Airline to enhance its commitment to provide excellent quality services to its esteemed customers.
Since its inception on December 5, 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has steadily grown to become a reputable African airline with an unparalleled coverage of Africa to the Middle East, Asia, Europe and America. Right from the beginning Ethiopian Airlines has been pursuing its goal of bringing Africa Together and closer to the world. As a result today it is operating the largest network in the African continent both in passengers and cargo services. Ethiopian Airlines continuously strives to live up to its motto of being Africa's World Class Airline that provides seamless connections to 47 destinations spread around the globe including 28 in Africa via its Addis Ababa hub. Effective 26th October, Ethiopian Airlines has made significant capacity increase to the West African destinations mainly to: Lagos, Accra, Bamako, Dakar and Djamena with immediate connections via Addis Ababa Airport.
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web November 1, 2006
Vision Reporter
Kampala
Ethiopian Airlines has been voted the "African Airline of the year 2006" by African Aviation Journal.
The carrier was chosen for its financial performance and overall profitability, passenger growth, route network expansion, fleet modernization, in-flight services, and overall customer care.
The award plaque was handed over to Ethiopian Airlines' chief executive officer, Girma Wake by Her Excellency Susan Mcdernoff, the deputy assistant secretary for aviation & international affairs at the African Aviation's 15th annual air finance for Africa conference in Cape Town, South Africa recently.
The African Aviation Awards were introduced by Aviation Journal in 1999 in order to give international recognition to those individuals, companies, and organizations that have made significant contributions to Aviation development in Africa.
It is a special privilege for Ethiopian Airlines to have been awarded African Airline of the Year 2006. The award inspires the Airline to enhance its commitment to provide excellent quality services to its esteemed customers.
Since its inception on December 5, 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has steadily grown to become a reputable African airline with an unparalleled coverage of Africa to the Middle East, Asia, Europe and America. Right from the beginning Ethiopian Airlines has been pursuing its goal of bringing Africa Together and closer to the world. As a result today it is operating the largest network in the African continent both in passengers and cargo services. Ethiopian Airlines continuously strives to live up to its motto of being Africa's World Class Airline that provides seamless connections to 47 destinations spread around the globe including 28 in Africa via its Addis Ababa hub. Effective 26th October, Ethiopian Airlines has made significant capacity increase to the West African destinations mainly to: Lagos, Accra, Bamako, Dakar and Djamena with immediate connections via Addis Ababa Airport.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Ethiopian Airlines adds Sudan service
Ethiopian Airlines adds Sudan service
Posted Mon, 30 Oct 2006
Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Airlines announced that it would launch direct flights to Southern Sudan capital Juba, from November 16 following increased demand for its services in that country.
"The new service has been carefully designed to provide business travellers to and from Juba a direct link to Addis Ababa with convenient connections to the rest of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and vice-versa," the airline's public relations department said.
As Southern Sudan emerges from a long civil war, Ethiopian Airline's flights to Juba were expected to bring that area closer to the world and also boost economic partnerships.
Located on the banks of the White Nile, Juba was Sudan's second most populated city with over 160 000 inhabitants.
The Addis Ababa-Juba flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with 111 passenger-capacity Boeing 737-200 aircraft, would bring Ethiopian Airline's total destinations in Africa to 29 and 47 worldwide.
Meanwhile, the airline has also announced plans to increase its services in Africa from October 29 with 11 weekly flights to Lagos, eight to Accra, daily to Khartoum and Johannesburg, six times to Dakar, five times to N'djamena and four times to Lome.
Two daily flights to Dubai were also to be introduced on the same day. -panapress
Posted Mon, 30 Oct 2006
Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Airlines announced that it would launch direct flights to Southern Sudan capital Juba, from November 16 following increased demand for its services in that country.
"The new service has been carefully designed to provide business travellers to and from Juba a direct link to Addis Ababa with convenient connections to the rest of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and vice-versa," the airline's public relations department said.
As Southern Sudan emerges from a long civil war, Ethiopian Airline's flights to Juba were expected to bring that area closer to the world and also boost economic partnerships.
Located on the banks of the White Nile, Juba was Sudan's second most populated city with over 160 000 inhabitants.
The Addis Ababa-Juba flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with 111 passenger-capacity Boeing 737-200 aircraft, would bring Ethiopian Airline's total destinations in Africa to 29 and 47 worldwide.
Meanwhile, the airline has also announced plans to increase its services in Africa from October 29 with 11 weekly flights to Lagos, eight to Accra, daily to Khartoum and Johannesburg, six times to Dakar, five times to N'djamena and four times to Lome.
Two daily flights to Dubai were also to be introduced on the same day. -panapress
Vaccine recommendations For ethiopian Travel
Region: Africa
Vaccine recommendations for Ethiopian Travel
Disease | Recommendation | When to see a doctor |
Typhoid | Vaccination recommended | 10 days before travel |
Hepatitis A | Vaccination recommended | 2 weeks before travel |
Diphtheria | Vaccination recommended | 3 months before travel |
Tuberculosis | *Vaccination sometimes recommended | 3 months before travel |
Hepatitis B | *Vaccination sometimes recommended | 2 months before travel |
Rabies | *Vaccination sometimes recommended | 1 month before travel |
Meningococcal meningitis | *Vaccination sometimes recommended | 2-3 weeks before travel |
Yellow fever | Vaccination recommended | 10 days before travel |
Japanese B encephalitis | Not required | . |
Tick-borne encephalitis | Not required | . |
* Recommendations that are marked "Vaccination
sometimes
recommended" should be considered as "Vaccination strongly recommended" if a
person is traveling frequently or spending extended time in that
country.
All travelers are advised to ensure that tetanus and polio
vaccinations are kept up to date.
Recommendations do change from time to time and it is important
to discuss your personal requirements with your doctor.
Malaria recommendations
Jet with 104 aboard crashes in Nigeria
Over 100 feared killed in Nigeria air crash
ABUJA (AFP) - More than 100 people have been feared killed when a commercial airliner crashed moments after takeoff in Nigeria's capital Abuja, official and aviation industry sources said.
"The ADC plane took off this morning from Lagos to Sokoto en route to Abuja with around 110 passengers and crew. After dropping some passengers in Abuja, it took off for Sokoto (north). Some moments after taking off, it lost control and crashed," one of the sources told AFP on Sunday.
A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident: "There was a crash this morning involving an ADC passenger plane. The plane crashed and burst into flames at the outskirts of Abuja. No information yet on casualties," Ibrahim Farinloye
The state-run News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said top-ranking government officials, senators, politicians, the son of one of Nigeria's former president and an influential traditional ruler, were on board.
It said a deputy governor was believed also to be on board of the ill-fated aircraft, owned by the private Nigerian airline ADC.
NAN said there were four survivors, while rescue operations were going on at the site of the crash, the latest to hit Nigeria's aviation industry in recent months.
Last month, 14 military officers, including 10 generals, were killed when their small airforce plane crashed into the hills in central Benue State.
The military officers were on their way to Obudu in southern Cross River State to attend the annual chief of army staff conference on September 17 when the Dornier 228-221, crashed into the hills of Korti in central Benue State minutes before arrival.
In December, a Sosoliso commercial jet crashed on landing in the oil city of Port Harcourt, killing all the 117 people on board.
Two months earlier, a Bellview commercial plane crashed in Lisa village, near Lagos, killing more than 100 people on board.
Nigerian President has ordered investigation into Sunday's tragegy.
"President Olusegun Obasanjo is deeply and profoundly shocked and saddened by the news of the reported air crash of an airliner in the environ of the federal capital territory today," presidential spokeswoman Oluremi Oyo said in a statement.
"The president has called for a full report and investigation into the crash. He condoled all Nigerians and especially the families and friends and associates of those who may have been on board the airline," she said
ABUJA (AFP) - More than 100 people have been feared killed when a commercial airliner crashed moments after takeoff in Nigeria's capital Abuja, official and aviation industry sources said.
"The ADC plane took off this morning from Lagos to Sokoto en route to Abuja with around 110 passengers and crew. After dropping some passengers in Abuja, it took off for Sokoto (north). Some moments after taking off, it lost control and crashed," one of the sources told AFP on Sunday.
A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident: "There was a crash this morning involving an ADC passenger plane. The plane crashed and burst into flames at the outskirts of Abuja. No information yet on casualties," Ibrahim Farinloye
The state-run News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said top-ranking government officials, senators, politicians, the son of one of Nigeria's former president and an influential traditional ruler, were on board.
It said a deputy governor was believed also to be on board of the ill-fated aircraft, owned by the private Nigerian airline ADC.
NAN said there were four survivors, while rescue operations were going on at the site of the crash, the latest to hit Nigeria's aviation industry in recent months.
Last month, 14 military officers, including 10 generals, were killed when their small airforce plane crashed into the hills in central Benue State.
The military officers were on their way to Obudu in southern Cross River State to attend the annual chief of army staff conference on September 17 when the Dornier 228-221, crashed into the hills of Korti in central Benue State minutes before arrival.
In December, a Sosoliso commercial jet crashed on landing in the oil city of Port Harcourt, killing all the 117 people on board.
Two months earlier, a Bellview commercial plane crashed in Lisa village, near Lagos, killing more than 100 people on board.
Nigerian President has ordered investigation into Sunday's tragegy.
"President Olusegun Obasanjo is deeply and profoundly shocked and saddened by the news of the reported air crash of an airliner in the environ of the federal capital territory today," presidential spokeswoman Oluremi Oyo said in a statement.
"The president has called for a full report and investigation into the crash. He condoled all Nigerians and especially the families and friends and associates of those who may have been on board the airline," she said
Friday, October 27, 2006
Ethiopian Airlines to launch new flight to Juba in mid-November
Addis Ababa -- - Ethiopian Airlines disclosed that it will begin flying to the Sudanese town of Juba effective November 16, 2006,bringing its total destinations in Africa to 29.
According to a press release sent today, the airline will make three flights in a week with same day return to Juba. Juba is a river port and the southern terminus of traffic along the White Nile,with highways connecting it to Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo,it stated. Ethiopian’s new service has been carefully designed to provide business travelers to and from Juba a direct link to Addis Ababa with convenient connections to the rest of Africa,Europe,the Middle East and vice versa,the press release elaborated. The new flight to Juba brings Ethiopia’s total destinations in Africa to 29 and to 47 worldwide,it was learnt. AND / (WIC)
According to a press release sent today, the airline will make three flights in a week with same day return to Juba. Juba is a river port and the southern terminus of traffic along the White Nile,with highways connecting it to Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo,it stated. Ethiopian’s new service has been carefully designed to provide business travelers to and from Juba a direct link to Addis Ababa with convenient connections to the rest of Africa,Europe,the Middle East and vice versa,the press release elaborated. The new flight to Juba brings Ethiopia’s total destinations in Africa to 29 and to 47 worldwide,it was learnt. AND / (WIC)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
eMTV= Ethiopian Music TV by Yebbo.com
eMTV= Ethiopian Music TV
Yebbo Travel Agency brings few powerful latest internet technologies to its web site visitors. Thank you for the hard working men and women in the internet and digital technology and companies like Google.com, Blogger.com, Youtube.com, Fliker.com, Unicode.org, and Yahoo.com now Yebbo Communication Network and Yebbo Travel Agency cooperating with Ethiotrans.com are utilizing these web sites and their technologies to bring Ethiopian and Africa to the global audiences. Now the Yebbo.com's eMTV = Ethiopian Music TV by Yebbo.com is podcasting and broadcasting selected Ethiopian hit music, shows and comedies to its audiences. Thank you for the Google.com and Youtube.com now we are able to host our video collections and we are able to bring other people's video collections and share it with Ethiopian music lovers. On the celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium, Yebbo Communication Network has dedicated the period between Sep 1, 2006 – Sep 30, 2007 as Year of Ethiopian Millennium Celebration.
During this period Yebbo Communication Network will provide several travel and tour related services and announcements such as travel news, travel warnings, Ethiopian music and video shows, entrainments and other travel related services. Also we are offering airlines ticketing, vista processing, passport application services, passport picture services, translation service and notary public services (only CA) to our customers.
Yebbo Travel Agency is specialized on African and Ethiopian tour packages. When you want to fly to Ethiopian just call
Yebbo Travel by www.Yebbo.com
4535 30th Street, Suite 106
San Diego, CA 92116
http://www.yebbo.com/ info@yebbo.com
San Diego (619) 255 5530
Los Angeles: (213) 291 8049
New York: (347) 293 0766
Washington, DC: (202)-536-4656
London: 02 07 0960849
Fax: 619 793 5824
Gateway to the motherland
We sale Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Emirates Airlines and Other domestic and international airlines depend on your travel route. For more information please call us or visit us online http://www.yebbo.com/
Yebbo Travel Agency brings few powerful latest internet technologies to its web site visitors. Thank you for the hard working men and women in the internet and digital technology and companies like Google.com, Blogger.com, Youtube.com, Fliker.com, Unicode.org, and Yahoo.com now Yebbo Communication Network and Yebbo Travel Agency cooperating with Ethiotrans.com are utilizing these web sites and their technologies to bring Ethiopian and Africa to the global audiences. Now the Yebbo.com's eMTV = Ethiopian Music TV by Yebbo.com is podcasting and broadcasting selected Ethiopian hit music, shows and comedies to its audiences. Thank you for the Google.com and Youtube.com now we are able to host our video collections and we are able to bring other people's video collections and share it with Ethiopian music lovers. On the celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium, Yebbo Communication Network has dedicated the period between Sep 1, 2006 – Sep 30, 2007 as Year of Ethiopian Millennium Celebration.
During this period Yebbo Communication Network will provide several travel and tour related services and announcements such as travel news, travel warnings, Ethiopian music and video shows, entrainments and other travel related services. Also we are offering airlines ticketing, vista processing, passport application services, passport picture services, translation service and notary public services (only CA) to our customers.
Yebbo Travel Agency is specialized on African and Ethiopian tour packages. When you want to fly to Ethiopian just call
Yebbo Travel by www.Yebbo.com
4535 30th Street, Suite 106
San Diego, CA 92116
http://www.yebbo.com/ info@yebbo.com
San Diego (619) 255 5530
Los Angeles: (213) 291 8049
New York: (347) 293 0766
Washington, DC: (202)-536-4656
London: 02 07 0960849
Fax: 619 793 5824
Gateway to the motherland
We sale Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Emirates Airlines and Other domestic and international airlines depend on your travel route. For more information please call us or visit us online http://www.yebbo.com/
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
HK, Ethiopia sign air services agreement
HK, Ethiopia sign air services agreement
Hong Kong and Ethiopia have signed an air services agreement, providing a legal framework for the establishment of air links between the two places.
Speaking at the signing ceremony today, Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip said: "To enhance Hong Kong's position as an international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to expand our air services network in line with our progressive liberalisation policy in aviation."
Ethiopia has an extensive aviation network for eastern and central Africa. More air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia will encourage more passenger and cargo traffic between eastern and central Africa and Asia to flow through Hong Kong. At present, Ethiopian Airlines is providing three weekly passenger services between Hong Kong and Addis Ababa.
The agreement with Ethiopia is Hong Kong's 56th air services agreement with foreign aviation partners.
Speaking at the signing ceremony today, Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip said: "To enhance Hong Kong's position as an international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to expand our air services network in line with our progressive liberalisation policy in aviation."
Ethiopia has an extensive aviation network for eastern and central Africa. More air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia will encourage more passenger and cargo traffic between eastern and central Africa and Asia to flow through Hong Kong. At present, Ethiopian Airlines is providing three weekly passenger services between Hong Kong and Addis Ababa.
The agreement with Ethiopia is Hong Kong's 56th air services agreement with foreign aviation partners.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Ethiopian, Gabon Airlines Sign MoU
ENAAddis Ababa
The Ethiopian Airlines and the Gabon Airlines yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding MoU to cooperate in technical and manpower training.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake and Gabon Airlines President Director General Christian Bongo signed the MoU.
Speaking on the occasion Girma said that the Ethiopian Airlines would provide technical assistance and training to the Gabon Airlines until the airway is well equipped.
The CEO said his airline would train Gabonese pilots and provide maintenance service to Gabonese aircrafts.
Girma said the Ethiopian Airlines has the responsibility of extending support to airways in Africa for most of them are in bankruptcy.
He said the Gabonese Airlines has requested its Ethiopian counterpart to increase its flight to Libreville, Gabon, which is now twice a week, for it is profitable.
Bongo on his part said that the Gabon Airlines resumed operation a year ago after closure and needs Ethiopian Airlines support.
He said the Ethiopian Airlines would help the Gabon Airlines in training its pilots and maintaining planes.
Bongo further indicated that the experience the Airlines would get from the Ethiopian Airlines, the most popular in Africa, is significant.
The Ethiopian Airlines and the Gabon Airlines yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding MoU to cooperate in technical and manpower training.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake and Gabon Airlines President Director General Christian Bongo signed the MoU.
Speaking on the occasion Girma said that the Ethiopian Airlines would provide technical assistance and training to the Gabon Airlines until the airway is well equipped.
The CEO said his airline would train Gabonese pilots and provide maintenance service to Gabonese aircrafts.
Girma said the Ethiopian Airlines has the responsibility of extending support to airways in Africa for most of them are in bankruptcy.
He said the Gabonese Airlines has requested its Ethiopian counterpart to increase its flight to Libreville, Gabon, which is now twice a week, for it is profitable.
Bongo on his part said that the Gabon Airlines resumed operation a year ago after closure and needs Ethiopian Airlines support.
He said the Ethiopian Airlines would help the Gabon Airlines in training its pilots and maintaining planes.
Bongo further indicated that the experience the Airlines would get from the Ethiopian Airlines, the most popular in Africa, is significant.
Banks Competing for Visa Card Primacy
Issayas Mekuria
Dashen Bank S.C and Barclaycard Kenya are deep into a dispute over who legitimately has the right to be Ethiopia's Visa card service provider.
For more than 30 years, Barclaycard services only existed at Ethiopian Airlines and the stores run by the Ethiopian Tourist Trade Enterprise. But that changed six years ago, when Barclaycard Kenya began being represented in Ethiopia by CcSI.
Since then, CcSI has been offering VISA, MasterCard, American Express and JCB card services. Today, CcSI has over 70 commercial outlets that deal in credit card services, 34 of which are active in using the point of sales (POS) terminals that CcSI installed.
Dashen Bank was one of these outlets, offering Visa based cash advance for four of those years. But in March 2006, Dashen became a VISA Association Principal in its own right. And in July, when Dashen started operating its own POS at different outlets and providing its own VISA card services, a dispute was sparked between the two parties.
According to the VISA Association regulations, if a local bank is providing VISA services, then a cross-border VISA service from another VISA principal is not permitted. Therefore, in accordance to this, Dashen requested Barclaycard to cease providing VISA card services in Ethiopia as it was now the legitimate principal in the country.
"There is no reason for a dispute to arise, all we are saying is that the norm should be followed," said, Lulseged Teferi, president of Dashen Bank. "We have no problems with another local Bank becoming a VISA principal."
Nikodimos Makonnen, Managing Director of CcSI, confirmed Dashen's claim that a Principal Bank cannot perform cross-border services.
"Nevertheless, the case of Barclaycard is looked upon in a different light," he said.
Barclaycard in Nairobi has been giving service for more than 35 years in over 42 African countries. Since most African banks did not provide credit card services, Barclaycard has been providing cross-border services quite freely.
Nikidimos told Fortune that of course Barclaycard believes in upholding the VISA regulations.
But he argued that because Barclays has been the sole VISA principal in Africa for a very long time, the British Bank had been allowed to be a principal for other credit card businesses, such as MasterCard and American Express, although VISA regulations had it that its principals could not. According to the managing director, Barclays has 25,000 card users in Africa, with 50pc holding a VISA, 35pc being Mastercard and American Express holding 10pc.
Barclays Bank was founded in the United Kingdom in 1896. Although the Bank's headquarters are in London, Barclays has 815 branches around the world and has 111 billion Pounds Sterling in capital. Barclaycard has 95,000 international retailer relationships and 5.3 million international cards in issue.
When Dashen became a VISA principal and started performing its duties, Barclays moved on to United Bank S.C, which will now be responsible for the cash advance work that Dashen used to perform.
United signed the contract with Barclaycard on July 26, 2006. It has since started rendering cash advance services from its branches at the Addis Abeba Hilton Hotel and on Africa Avenue in Bole.
"Because I want my Bank to become strong in foreign currency, I pounced on the opportunity to sign with Barclays as soon as I found out that Dashen finalized its contract," Birhanu Getaneh, president of United Bank told Fortune. "I have no idea about the controversy that has arisen between Dashen and Barclays."
Despite this statement, Birhanu WoldeSelassie, vice-president at Dashen, wrote a letter three weeks ago to United Bank stating that now that Dashen was a VISA principal, it was not right for United to sign with Barclaycard and render the same services. United Bank President has chosen not to comment on matters concerning the letter.
"There is nothing antagonistic between United Bank and us," said Lulseged. "All we are saying is that the regulations should be upheld, not that another local bank should not get into this aspect of the business."
According to the National Bank of Ethiopia, transactions worth beween 1.5 to two million dollars take place through VISA, MasterCard and American Express in just one month. United Bank serves more than 100 customers a month and receives five percent commission.
"A lot of money is made through this commission; hence it is not surprising that a controversy should arise around it," a local banker said.
Dashen has invested more than three million dollars to render card services. The president told Fortune that as a VISA principal, Dashen will not be receiving the five percent commission, but that the wider customer base that it intends to have will in the long-run benefit the Bank more than the commission will.
"The main reason for being a VISA principal is to ensure that the card service is of a better quality as well as more convenient for card users, which will in turn help us widen our customer base" said Lulseged.
Before it started providing credit card services in July, Dashen Bank provided cash advance services from its Sheraton Branch. After becoming VISA's principal, it has subscribed 1, 672 card users and has POS in 54 commercial outlets.
Dashen had written a letter to the VISA Association requesting that Barclaycard be stripped of its privilege to provide VISA card services in Ethiopia. Fortune was unable to get a hold of the response given by the Association if any was actually given.
Addis Fortune
Nikodimos told Fortune that as long as Dashen provides efficient VISA card services, Barclaycard intends to respect the Association's regulations and slowly move out of the market.
Dashen Bank S.C and Barclaycard Kenya are deep into a dispute over who legitimately has the right to be Ethiopia's Visa card service provider.
For more than 30 years, Barclaycard services only existed at Ethiopian Airlines and the stores run by the Ethiopian Tourist Trade Enterprise. But that changed six years ago, when Barclaycard Kenya began being represented in Ethiopia by CcSI.
Since then, CcSI has been offering VISA, MasterCard, American Express and JCB card services. Today, CcSI has over 70 commercial outlets that deal in credit card services, 34 of which are active in using the point of sales (POS) terminals that CcSI installed.
Dashen Bank was one of these outlets, offering Visa based cash advance for four of those years. But in March 2006, Dashen became a VISA Association Principal in its own right. And in July, when Dashen started operating its own POS at different outlets and providing its own VISA card services, a dispute was sparked between the two parties.
According to the VISA Association regulations, if a local bank is providing VISA services, then a cross-border VISA service from another VISA principal is not permitted. Therefore, in accordance to this, Dashen requested Barclaycard to cease providing VISA card services in Ethiopia as it was now the legitimate principal in the country.
"There is no reason for a dispute to arise, all we are saying is that the norm should be followed," said, Lulseged Teferi, president of Dashen Bank. "We have no problems with another local Bank becoming a VISA principal."
Nikodimos Makonnen, Managing Director of CcSI, confirmed Dashen's claim that a Principal Bank cannot perform cross-border services.
"Nevertheless, the case of Barclaycard is looked upon in a different light," he said.
Barclaycard in Nairobi has been giving service for more than 35 years in over 42 African countries. Since most African banks did not provide credit card services, Barclaycard has been providing cross-border services quite freely.
Nikidimos told Fortune that of course Barclaycard believes in upholding the VISA regulations.
But he argued that because Barclays has been the sole VISA principal in Africa for a very long time, the British Bank had been allowed to be a principal for other credit card businesses, such as MasterCard and American Express, although VISA regulations had it that its principals could not. According to the managing director, Barclays has 25,000 card users in Africa, with 50pc holding a VISA, 35pc being Mastercard and American Express holding 10pc.
Barclays Bank was founded in the United Kingdom in 1896. Although the Bank's headquarters are in London, Barclays has 815 branches around the world and has 111 billion Pounds Sterling in capital. Barclaycard has 95,000 international retailer relationships and 5.3 million international cards in issue.
When Dashen became a VISA principal and started performing its duties, Barclays moved on to United Bank S.C, which will now be responsible for the cash advance work that Dashen used to perform.
United signed the contract with Barclaycard on July 26, 2006. It has since started rendering cash advance services from its branches at the Addis Abeba Hilton Hotel and on Africa Avenue in Bole.
"Because I want my Bank to become strong in foreign currency, I pounced on the opportunity to sign with Barclays as soon as I found out that Dashen finalized its contract," Birhanu Getaneh, president of United Bank told Fortune. "I have no idea about the controversy that has arisen between Dashen and Barclays."
Despite this statement, Birhanu WoldeSelassie, vice-president at Dashen, wrote a letter three weeks ago to United Bank stating that now that Dashen was a VISA principal, it was not right for United to sign with Barclaycard and render the same services. United Bank President has chosen not to comment on matters concerning the letter.
"There is nothing antagonistic between United Bank and us," said Lulseged. "All we are saying is that the regulations should be upheld, not that another local bank should not get into this aspect of the business."
According to the National Bank of Ethiopia, transactions worth beween 1.5 to two million dollars take place through VISA, MasterCard and American Express in just one month. United Bank serves more than 100 customers a month and receives five percent commission.
"A lot of money is made through this commission; hence it is not surprising that a controversy should arise around it," a local banker said.
Dashen has invested more than three million dollars to render card services. The president told Fortune that as a VISA principal, Dashen will not be receiving the five percent commission, but that the wider customer base that it intends to have will in the long-run benefit the Bank more than the commission will.
"The main reason for being a VISA principal is to ensure that the card service is of a better quality as well as more convenient for card users, which will in turn help us widen our customer base" said Lulseged.
Before it started providing credit card services in July, Dashen Bank provided cash advance services from its Sheraton Branch. After becoming VISA's principal, it has subscribed 1, 672 card users and has POS in 54 commercial outlets.
Dashen had written a letter to the VISA Association requesting that Barclaycard be stripped of its privilege to provide VISA card services in Ethiopia. Fortune was unable to get a hold of the response given by the Association if any was actually given.
Addis Fortune
Nikodimos told Fortune that as long as Dashen provides efficient VISA card services, Barclaycard intends to respect the Association's regulations and slowly move out of the market.
Ethiopian Airlines set to buy five aircrafts
Ethiopian Airlines set to buy five aircrafts
By Kaleyesus Bekele (The Reporter)
Ethiopian Airlines, on Thursday, announced it planned to purchase five new aircrafts.
In a joint press conference organized by Airbus and Ethiopian at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Girma Wake, Ethiopian CEO, said that Ethiopian needed to buy five jetliners. Girma told journalists that the Airline had invited Boeing and Airbus to present proposals. Ethiopian has been considering buying the Airbus A350 and Boeing B787-9 (dreamliner) aircrafts. "We are holding talks with the manufacturers. But we have not yet decided on which aircraft to aquire," Girma said.
In 2004 Ethiopian evaluated the A 350 and B787 dreamliner aircrafts and opted to buy the latter. In January 2005, Ethiopian placed orders for ten B787 aircraft with a total value of 1.2 billion dollars. Delivery for these aircraft will begin in 2008. "We opted to buy the B787 because it was more convenient to bring the aircraft into our system. This does not mean that A350 is a bad aircraft," Girma told journalists. "There is a neck to neck competition between the two aircraft manufacturers," he added.
As part of its fleet modernization program, Ethiopian has acquired eleven B767 and B737 aircrafts in the past three years. However, the growing number of passengers has prompted the airline to buy additional aircraft. Recently, it leased an A330-200 from a company called Societede Transport Aerien Regional. According to Girma, the comparison was made based on the price of the aircraft, its performance and the investment that was required to introduce the aircraft into Ethiopian's system.
The Airbus A380, the ever largest passenger aircraft, this week, conducted high altitude test flights in Addis Ababa. The new aircraft, equipped with four engines manufactured by Alliance Engine, and weighing about 560 tons, landed in Addis Ababa last Monday. It flew seven hours directly from Toulouse, France to Addis Ababa.
The A380 crew, which comprises of test pilots, flight engineers and other experts from the European Aviation Safety Agency, conducted several test flights in Addis Ababa in the past four days.
Captain Etienne Tarnowski, head of the crew, said that the particular A380 he commanded was the fifth prototype aircraft. He added that the performance of the aircraft was tested under extreme conditions. "Addis Ababa was selected for the test flight for its high altitude [7,500 feet above sea level] and for its airport facility."
Alemayehu Tekle, general manager of the Ethiopian Airport Enterprise, said that the new runway and taxiway at the airport demonstrated it was of a high standard by accommodating the A380 aircraft. President Girma Woldegiorgis, Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Junedin Saddo, Minister of Transport and Communication and the ambassadors of Germany, UK, France and Spain and other officials visited the prototype aircraft.
The A380 is a 555-seater aircraft and double decker which consumes three litters of fuel per 100 kms per seat. The number of seats could be increased up to 800 by changing the configuration. The price of the aircraft is 300 million dollars. Airbus spent 10.7 billion dollars on the A380 aircraft development program. So far five A380 prototype aircraft have been manufactured. Four of them are equipped with Rolls-Roce engines.
Mr Hadi Akoum, vice president of customer relations for Africa, said that the A380 has attracted about 200 orders from 16 airlines. Air France, Lufthansa, Singapore, China Southern, China Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Quatar are some of the airlines that have placed orders for A380. Mr Akoum said so far there was no African airline which had ordered the A380. "We manufacture 13 different aircrafts. We started to sell the aircrafts to Africa in the '70s. We hope to find African airlines who will order the A380," he added.
Three weeks ago airbus informed its A380 customers of a further delay in the delivery schedule of the aircraft. According to the company's revised plan, the first A380 will be delivered in October 2007.
Girma Wake said the A380 was too big for Ethiopia's needs." .At the moment we don't dream to acquire this giant aircraft. But we are grateful to Airbus for picking up Addis for the first test flights in Africa," he added. Airbus will reportedly pay substantial fees to the Ethiopian Airport Enterprise and Ethiopian for the airport facilities and other services they rendered during the test flight. The A380 yesterday, left for the United Arab Emirates. Airbus has so far conducted test flights for the A380 in the UAE, Columbia and Canada. It will also have similar tests in China, South Africa, Egypt, Australia, and India.
Airbus is a European consortium owned by the governments of France, Germany, Spain and the UK. The company was established 30 years ago and is headquartered in Toulouse.
Source: The Reporter
By Kaleyesus Bekele (The Reporter)
Ethiopian Airlines, on Thursday, announced it planned to purchase five new aircrafts.
In a joint press conference organized by Airbus and Ethiopian at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Girma Wake, Ethiopian CEO, said that Ethiopian needed to buy five jetliners. Girma told journalists that the Airline had invited Boeing and Airbus to present proposals. Ethiopian has been considering buying the Airbus A350 and Boeing B787-9 (dreamliner) aircrafts. "We are holding talks with the manufacturers. But we have not yet decided on which aircraft to aquire," Girma said.
In 2004 Ethiopian evaluated the A 350 and B787 dreamliner aircrafts and opted to buy the latter. In January 2005, Ethiopian placed orders for ten B787 aircraft with a total value of 1.2 billion dollars. Delivery for these aircraft will begin in 2008. "We opted to buy the B787 because it was more convenient to bring the aircraft into our system. This does not mean that A350 is a bad aircraft," Girma told journalists. "There is a neck to neck competition between the two aircraft manufacturers," he added.
As part of its fleet modernization program, Ethiopian has acquired eleven B767 and B737 aircrafts in the past three years. However, the growing number of passengers has prompted the airline to buy additional aircraft. Recently, it leased an A330-200 from a company called Societede Transport Aerien Regional. According to Girma, the comparison was made based on the price of the aircraft, its performance and the investment that was required to introduce the aircraft into Ethiopian's system.
The Airbus A380, the ever largest passenger aircraft, this week, conducted high altitude test flights in Addis Ababa. The new aircraft, equipped with four engines manufactured by Alliance Engine, and weighing about 560 tons, landed in Addis Ababa last Monday. It flew seven hours directly from Toulouse, France to Addis Ababa.
The A380 crew, which comprises of test pilots, flight engineers and other experts from the European Aviation Safety Agency, conducted several test flights in Addis Ababa in the past four days.
Captain Etienne Tarnowski, head of the crew, said that the particular A380 he commanded was the fifth prototype aircraft. He added that the performance of the aircraft was tested under extreme conditions. "Addis Ababa was selected for the test flight for its high altitude [7,500 feet above sea level] and for its airport facility."
Alemayehu Tekle, general manager of the Ethiopian Airport Enterprise, said that the new runway and taxiway at the airport demonstrated it was of a high standard by accommodating the A380 aircraft. President Girma Woldegiorgis, Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Junedin Saddo, Minister of Transport and Communication and the ambassadors of Germany, UK, France and Spain and other officials visited the prototype aircraft.
The A380 is a 555-seater aircraft and double decker which consumes three litters of fuel per 100 kms per seat. The number of seats could be increased up to 800 by changing the configuration. The price of the aircraft is 300 million dollars. Airbus spent 10.7 billion dollars on the A380 aircraft development program. So far five A380 prototype aircraft have been manufactured. Four of them are equipped with Rolls-Roce engines.
Mr Hadi Akoum, vice president of customer relations for Africa, said that the A380 has attracted about 200 orders from 16 airlines. Air France, Lufthansa, Singapore, China Southern, China Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Quatar are some of the airlines that have placed orders for A380. Mr Akoum said so far there was no African airline which had ordered the A380. "We manufacture 13 different aircrafts. We started to sell the aircrafts to Africa in the '70s. We hope to find African airlines who will order the A380," he added.
Three weeks ago airbus informed its A380 customers of a further delay in the delivery schedule of the aircraft. According to the company's revised plan, the first A380 will be delivered in October 2007.
Girma Wake said the A380 was too big for Ethiopia's needs." .At the moment we don't dream to acquire this giant aircraft. But we are grateful to Airbus for picking up Addis for the first test flights in Africa," he added. Airbus will reportedly pay substantial fees to the Ethiopian Airport Enterprise and Ethiopian for the airport facilities and other services they rendered during the test flight. The A380 yesterday, left for the United Arab Emirates. Airbus has so far conducted test flights for the A380 in the UAE, Columbia and Canada. It will also have similar tests in China, South Africa, Egypt, Australia, and India.
Airbus is a European consortium owned by the governments of France, Germany, Spain and the UK. The company was established 30 years ago and is headquartered in Toulouse.
Source: The Reporter
Ethiopia: Girma Leaves Ethiopian's Door Open
Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)
October 24, 2006
amrat G. Giorgis
The gargantuan Airbus 380 landed successfully in Bole Airport last week, to the delight of local dignitaries. But in 60 years of history, Ethiopian Airlines has never once purchased an Airbus. But this does not mean that the national airline and the European supplier have not spent many long hours in meetings and otherwise courting each other. Maybe not too far in the future, Airbus' moment in Ethiopia will finally come.
With his trademark witty remarks, Ethiopian Airlines chief, Girma Wake, remained bemused as to whether there is any chance for his company to acquire Airbus A380, the largest aircraft the world has seen to date.
"For us to dream to have something like that in the immediate future is not likely," he told members of the press on Thursday, October 19, in a joint press conference he gave with Airbus officials, inside the new cargo terminal. "If the Sheraton refuses to let us have room, we may consider it for a hotel."
Jokes aside, Girma felt pleased to see the A380 landing at the Bole International Airport on Monday, October 16. He was pleased to see Ethiopians exposed to "what is outside in the world".
Amidst uncertainties, this super jumbo jet successfully landed at 5:20pm, to conduct a five-day test flight cruising in high altitude airport with 2,500m above see level. According to Etienne Tarnowski, one of the two test pilots, Addis was picked for it has the right altitude and temperature, factors required for technical reasons in the process of certifying the aircraft for commercial purpose.
One of the five aircrafts of its model, the jumbo jet that came to Addis was fitted with new engine manufactured by Alliance Engine, a European firm.
"We are here to study and assess the behaviour of the engine in high altitude and take data on its performance," said Mr. Tarnowski.
The pilots performed over six takeoffs and landing during the week. To the delight of Ethiopia's aviation authorities, Tarnowski told the media he found Bole International Airport to have "a perfect runway" and the taxiway to be in "a very good shape".
The sense of pride by the authorities is deep. A series of visits by President Girma W. Giorgis and Seyoum Mesfin and Junadin Sado, ministers of Foreign Affairs and Transport and Communications, respectively, reflected that.
"Our facility has proven to be capable of handling even the largest aircraft in the world," said Alemayehu Tekle, general manager of the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise. "We are proud of our airport."
For a landing fee said to be more than 14,000 dollars, the airport indeed managed to entertain the biggest aircraft ever manufactured with a net weight of 560,000Kg and a width of 80m. The aircraft left the airport with no reported damage to the facilities, with the exception of a broken signal light during a turn-around on the taxiway.
"We have given the Enterprise our insurance details," said one of the three members of Airbus' advance mission.
Enterprise managers, however, feel that the damage is Very negligible in the face of what A380 appearance to their airport would do in terms of international exposure. It is the first African airport to receive this huge aircraft, whose making and delivery became a source of international controversy, starting from its original inception.
Minister of Transport and Communications, Junadin Sado, had a lighter moment with Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Girma Wake, before a visit inside Airbus' A380. They were accompanied by one of the two Airbus test pilots, Etienne Tarnowski, and Hadi Akoum, vice president of Sales for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean.
Relatively young compared to its archrival aircraft manufacturers, the American Boeing, the European Airbus has a different analysis on how demand in the aviation industry will evolve in the coming two decades. This is ironic because their respective projections of the volume of business are almost identical.
Both manufacturers hardly disagree on the 5.3pc growth of the industry, almost tripling in 20 years. This will require the making of 17,300 new passenger and freight aircrafts with a value of close to two trillion dollars. Their differences rather lie on what sort of aircrafts will be needed by the industry.
Airbus gambles on larger aircraft that could fly thousands of kilometres, carrying over 500 passengers. This, its officials argue, will enable airlines to offer comfort due to added space, and at a much lower cost to individual passengers. The company claims the new aircraft is too irresistible for it offers airlines a long-haul aircraft that consumes less than three litres of fuel per passenger over 100Km, a consumption as good as any regular car.
"The A380's efficiency and advanced technology results in 15 to 20pc lower seat-mile costs," said a press statement Airbus issued last month. "Its range is 10pc greater than that of other large aircraft. Quite simply, the A380 will provide passengers on major long-haul routes like London to Singapore and Los Angeles to Sydney with a new way of flying."
Executives at Boeing have a different outlook. They see passengers reluctant to fly long distances such as from Chicago to Sydney, prefering shorter distances. They also see airport administrations across the world little prepared to handle not only such a gigantic aircraft, but also the influx of people that come off all at once. The amount of investment countries are required to turn their airports compatible to the landing of A380 and the crowd created inside airports and in front of immigration posts are too much trouble to go for any aircraft that carries over 300 passengers, Boeing executives believe.
Yet, close to 16 airlines, including those based in the United States such as UPS and Federal Express, have placed 159 orders to date. If certification is successfully obtained, Singapore Airlines will be the first operator to use this aircraft, although the largest order, 43 aircrafts, has been placed by Emirates.
Whether or not delivery will meet deadline is a subject of international discussion. Delays in manufacturing have subjected Airbus' parent company, the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS), to a seven billion dollar loss in market capitalization, and led the replacement of its chief executive officer by Louis Gallois, the second boss in just 10 months.
Airliners that have ordered A380 are being paid compensation for the delay, while some of them are even threatening to cancel their orders, according to international reports. No African airline is to benefit from this windfall, for no one in Africa has placed an order for this aircraft.
Nevertheless, Airbus claims to have a 56pc lead on Boeing when it comes to the African market, which accounts two per cent of the world air traffic and three per cent of the global commercial passenger fleet. It has 130 aircrafts operated by 23 airlines across the continent, including three of the four largest: South African, Egypt and Kenyan.
Although Tarnowski told members of the press last week that he sees Addis as a friendly environment for they have had similar test flights before with A320, and consider Ethiopia as "close to our heart", its national carrier has never acquired a single aircraft manufactured by Airbus to date.
It had a close call two years ago when it introduced its midsize plane, A350, designed to rival Boeing's 787, aka Dreamliner. In spite of reported pressure by European leaders on the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Ethiopian negotiators were never convinced A350 would be a best bet when analysed in 10 years forecast.
"In fact, they had given us a wonderful offer in price," an Ethiopian official recalls. "We are not convinced that the economic analysis was in our favour, thus did not dare touch it."
Ethiopian negotiators were adamant that A350 had little to offer in terms of costs - fuel consumption, maintenance and depreciation - when compared to Boeing's 787, that the American giant describes it a "game changer".
Understandably, the news that Ethiopian was to conclude the purchase deal for 10 Boeing 787, with delivery date to be completed in 2011, was devastating to Airbus marketers. They were about to break the Boeing monopoly on one of Africa's celebrated airlines it watched closely for over half a century.
"It was a neck to neck competition," recalled CEO Girma, who was then new in his current position, replacing Bisrat Negatu.
Luckily, his technicians were vindicated when Airbus came out with a painful discloser during the Paris air show in July 2005 that it would postpone the launching of A350. And recently, the European aircraft manufacturer abandoned the making of this model and decided to introduce a newer version, A350XWB, whose development is estimated to cost 10 billion dollars. It will carry 270 passengers in three-class configuration and will cruise as fast as the A380 that is now under testing.
When, and if, delivered by 2012, Airbus promised this model to provide a 21st Century solutions to the global aviation industry.
Says Airbus: "Designed to have longer maintenance intervals with lower tasks and less man-hours, cash operating costs will be up to 10pc lower than competing 787 models and 20pc lower than current generation competitors."
It just sound likes Airbus is answering the complaints made by Ethiopian negotiators two years ago. But Ethiopian has not given up hope on Airbus, according to Girma.
"If Airbus is to come with concerted plans, the door is open," he told the media, in the joint press conference with Airbus executives. "If they are to come with a model that will compete Boeing, we will be happy to consider it."
And they have already come to knock on his door: Three delegates from the company, including Hadi Akoum, vice president of Sales for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean, and Somas Appavou, sales director for Africa and Indian Sub-ocean, were in Addis a month and half ago to conduct a presentation to senior officials of the Ethiopian Airlines.
"They have changed so much on paper," said one of these senior executives.
Another senior executive who attended the meeting, however, felt Airbus has yet to take this project off the drawing board. His company is interested to acquire five new aircrafts beyond 2011, to add what will be a fleet side of 33 aircrafts by then.
It will be but a few of the 640 aircraft African airlines will need in the next 20 years, at a cost of 60 billion dollars, according to global market forecast. Aviation experts anticipate that this will be driven by a strong demand due to increasing trade ties and inflow of tourists from Europe, China, the Middle East and North America.
Nonetheless, Ethiopian officials do caution the likelihood of delays with the delivery of the newly developed A350-XWB.
"They are confronted with the delay on A380 that pushes the deadline on A350-XWB even further than 2012," said a senior management staff of Ethiopian. "We do not think it is wise to start negotiations on something that is not yet firm."
Airbus officials who came to Addis to attend the landing of their largest aircraft last week, are promising to come back next month, after putting their acts together, and perhaps tap on the door CEO Girma has promised is open for them.
October 24, 2006
amrat G. Giorgis
The gargantuan Airbus 380 landed successfully in Bole Airport last week, to the delight of local dignitaries. But in 60 years of history, Ethiopian Airlines has never once purchased an Airbus. But this does not mean that the national airline and the European supplier have not spent many long hours in meetings and otherwise courting each other. Maybe not too far in the future, Airbus' moment in Ethiopia will finally come.
With his trademark witty remarks, Ethiopian Airlines chief, Girma Wake, remained bemused as to whether there is any chance for his company to acquire Airbus A380, the largest aircraft the world has seen to date.
"For us to dream to have something like that in the immediate future is not likely," he told members of the press on Thursday, October 19, in a joint press conference he gave with Airbus officials, inside the new cargo terminal. "If the Sheraton refuses to let us have room, we may consider it for a hotel."
Jokes aside, Girma felt pleased to see the A380 landing at the Bole International Airport on Monday, October 16. He was pleased to see Ethiopians exposed to "what is outside in the world".
Amidst uncertainties, this super jumbo jet successfully landed at 5:20pm, to conduct a five-day test flight cruising in high altitude airport with 2,500m above see level. According to Etienne Tarnowski, one of the two test pilots, Addis was picked for it has the right altitude and temperature, factors required for technical reasons in the process of certifying the aircraft for commercial purpose.
One of the five aircrafts of its model, the jumbo jet that came to Addis was fitted with new engine manufactured by Alliance Engine, a European firm.
"We are here to study and assess the behaviour of the engine in high altitude and take data on its performance," said Mr. Tarnowski.
The pilots performed over six takeoffs and landing during the week. To the delight of Ethiopia's aviation authorities, Tarnowski told the media he found Bole International Airport to have "a perfect runway" and the taxiway to be in "a very good shape".
The sense of pride by the authorities is deep. A series of visits by President Girma W. Giorgis and Seyoum Mesfin and Junadin Sado, ministers of Foreign Affairs and Transport and Communications, respectively, reflected that.
"Our facility has proven to be capable of handling even the largest aircraft in the world," said Alemayehu Tekle, general manager of the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise. "We are proud of our airport."
For a landing fee said to be more than 14,000 dollars, the airport indeed managed to entertain the biggest aircraft ever manufactured with a net weight of 560,000Kg and a width of 80m. The aircraft left the airport with no reported damage to the facilities, with the exception of a broken signal light during a turn-around on the taxiway.
"We have given the Enterprise our insurance details," said one of the three members of Airbus' advance mission.
Enterprise managers, however, feel that the damage is Very negligible in the face of what A380 appearance to their airport would do in terms of international exposure. It is the first African airport to receive this huge aircraft, whose making and delivery became a source of international controversy, starting from its original inception.
Minister of Transport and Communications, Junadin Sado, had a lighter moment with Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Girma Wake, before a visit inside Airbus' A380. They were accompanied by one of the two Airbus test pilots, Etienne Tarnowski, and Hadi Akoum, vice president of Sales for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean.
Relatively young compared to its archrival aircraft manufacturers, the American Boeing, the European Airbus has a different analysis on how demand in the aviation industry will evolve in the coming two decades. This is ironic because their respective projections of the volume of business are almost identical.
Both manufacturers hardly disagree on the 5.3pc growth of the industry, almost tripling in 20 years. This will require the making of 17,300 new passenger and freight aircrafts with a value of close to two trillion dollars. Their differences rather lie on what sort of aircrafts will be needed by the industry.
Airbus gambles on larger aircraft that could fly thousands of kilometres, carrying over 500 passengers. This, its officials argue, will enable airlines to offer comfort due to added space, and at a much lower cost to individual passengers. The company claims the new aircraft is too irresistible for it offers airlines a long-haul aircraft that consumes less than three litres of fuel per passenger over 100Km, a consumption as good as any regular car.
"The A380's efficiency and advanced technology results in 15 to 20pc lower seat-mile costs," said a press statement Airbus issued last month. "Its range is 10pc greater than that of other large aircraft. Quite simply, the A380 will provide passengers on major long-haul routes like London to Singapore and Los Angeles to Sydney with a new way of flying."
Executives at Boeing have a different outlook. They see passengers reluctant to fly long distances such as from Chicago to Sydney, prefering shorter distances. They also see airport administrations across the world little prepared to handle not only such a gigantic aircraft, but also the influx of people that come off all at once. The amount of investment countries are required to turn their airports compatible to the landing of A380 and the crowd created inside airports and in front of immigration posts are too much trouble to go for any aircraft that carries over 300 passengers, Boeing executives believe.
Yet, close to 16 airlines, including those based in the United States such as UPS and Federal Express, have placed 159 orders to date. If certification is successfully obtained, Singapore Airlines will be the first operator to use this aircraft, although the largest order, 43 aircrafts, has been placed by Emirates.
Whether or not delivery will meet deadline is a subject of international discussion. Delays in manufacturing have subjected Airbus' parent company, the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS), to a seven billion dollar loss in market capitalization, and led the replacement of its chief executive officer by Louis Gallois, the second boss in just 10 months.
Airliners that have ordered A380 are being paid compensation for the delay, while some of them are even threatening to cancel their orders, according to international reports. No African airline is to benefit from this windfall, for no one in Africa has placed an order for this aircraft.
Nevertheless, Airbus claims to have a 56pc lead on Boeing when it comes to the African market, which accounts two per cent of the world air traffic and three per cent of the global commercial passenger fleet. It has 130 aircrafts operated by 23 airlines across the continent, including three of the four largest: South African, Egypt and Kenyan.
Although Tarnowski told members of the press last week that he sees Addis as a friendly environment for they have had similar test flights before with A320, and consider Ethiopia as "close to our heart", its national carrier has never acquired a single aircraft manufactured by Airbus to date.
It had a close call two years ago when it introduced its midsize plane, A350, designed to rival Boeing's 787, aka Dreamliner. In spite of reported pressure by European leaders on the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Ethiopian negotiators were never convinced A350 would be a best bet when analysed in 10 years forecast.
"In fact, they had given us a wonderful offer in price," an Ethiopian official recalls. "We are not convinced that the economic analysis was in our favour, thus did not dare touch it."
Ethiopian negotiators were adamant that A350 had little to offer in terms of costs - fuel consumption, maintenance and depreciation - when compared to Boeing's 787, that the American giant describes it a "game changer".
Understandably, the news that Ethiopian was to conclude the purchase deal for 10 Boeing 787, with delivery date to be completed in 2011, was devastating to Airbus marketers. They were about to break the Boeing monopoly on one of Africa's celebrated airlines it watched closely for over half a century.
"It was a neck to neck competition," recalled CEO Girma, who was then new in his current position, replacing Bisrat Negatu.
Luckily, his technicians were vindicated when Airbus came out with a painful discloser during the Paris air show in July 2005 that it would postpone the launching of A350. And recently, the European aircraft manufacturer abandoned the making of this model and decided to introduce a newer version, A350XWB, whose development is estimated to cost 10 billion dollars. It will carry 270 passengers in three-class configuration and will cruise as fast as the A380 that is now under testing.
When, and if, delivered by 2012, Airbus promised this model to provide a 21st Century solutions to the global aviation industry.
Says Airbus: "Designed to have longer maintenance intervals with lower tasks and less man-hours, cash operating costs will be up to 10pc lower than competing 787 models and 20pc lower than current generation competitors."
It just sound likes Airbus is answering the complaints made by Ethiopian negotiators two years ago. But Ethiopian has not given up hope on Airbus, according to Girma.
"If Airbus is to come with concerted plans, the door is open," he told the media, in the joint press conference with Airbus executives. "If they are to come with a model that will compete Boeing, we will be happy to consider it."
And they have already come to knock on his door: Three delegates from the company, including Hadi Akoum, vice president of Sales for Southern Africa and Indian Ocean, and Somas Appavou, sales director for Africa and Indian Sub-ocean, were in Addis a month and half ago to conduct a presentation to senior officials of the Ethiopian Airlines.
"They have changed so much on paper," said one of these senior executives.
Another senior executive who attended the meeting, however, felt Airbus has yet to take this project off the drawing board. His company is interested to acquire five new aircrafts beyond 2011, to add what will be a fleet side of 33 aircrafts by then.
It will be but a few of the 640 aircraft African airlines will need in the next 20 years, at a cost of 60 billion dollars, according to global market forecast. Aviation experts anticipate that this will be driven by a strong demand due to increasing trade ties and inflow of tourists from Europe, China, the Middle East and North America.
Nonetheless, Ethiopian officials do caution the likelihood of delays with the delivery of the newly developed A350-XWB.
"They are confronted with the delay on A380 that pushes the deadline on A350-XWB even further than 2012," said a senior management staff of Ethiopian. "We do not think it is wise to start negotiations on something that is not yet firm."
Airbus officials who came to Addis to attend the landing of their largest aircraft last week, are promising to come back next month, after putting their acts together, and perhaps tap on the door CEO Girma has promised is open for them.
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