Ethiopian Airlines on Monday commenced four times weekly flights to Pakistan’s capital Karachi.
The launch resumes the airline’s direct flight between Addis Ababa and Karachi after nearly two-decade of interruption.
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State Minister of Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga and representatives from various sectors boarded the inaugural flight.
It received a warm welcome from Pakistani government officials upon arrival at Karachi International Airport on Tuesday morning, said the Foreign Ministry.
Pakistan’s most populous city is the 37th destination of Ethiopian Airlines in Asia and connects Addis Ababa and Karachi four times a week, according to the airline.
Ethiopian first served Karachi from July 1966 to December 1971 and resumed the service from June 1993 until July 2004.
The national flag carrier announced the plan to restart the flight two months ago, saying it will be the only flight connecting Pakistan with Africa.
“The flight service to Karachi will have a significant contribution to strengthening the diplomatic and economic relations between the two regions,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said while announcing the scheduled flight service in March.
Authorities say it will further boost the relations between Ethiopia and Pakistan which have recently been working to strengthen their trade and investment ties.
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Currently, Ethiopian Airlines is serving more than 145 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations.
