ETHIOPIAN SET FOR GOMA FLIGHTS BUT WITHOUT TRAFFIC RIGHTS OUT OF ENTEBBE
(Posted 16th January 2015)
Ethiopian Airlines plans to launch a new service to Goma, Eastern Congo from the 10th of February, initially offering three times a week. The airline plans to fly from Addis Ababa via Entebbe to Goma, using a B737-800, but has reportedly failed so far to secure fifth freedom traffic rights between Entebbe and Goma. In contrast does Ethiopian hold and use fifth freedom rights between Entebbe and Juba / South Sudan.
Flight number ET 811 is scheduled to leave Addis every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10.55 hrs, stop over in Entebbe at 13.00 hrs, continue to Goma at 14.00 hrs where it arrives at 14.00 hrs local time due to the one hour time difference between Uganda and Eastern Congo. Flight ET 810 then returns to Addis Ababa via Entebbe.
The new flights add yet another destination in Africa to the growing network Ethiopian serves and is seen as a key element for Star Alliance staying in the lead with the most destinations across the continent. Besides Ethiopian are Egypt Air and South African Airways the other two African Star Alliance members, effectively covering the continent like no other alliance. Other Star Alliance members flying to Africa are among others Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss and Turkish Airlines from their respective hubs.
