Ethiopian Airlines plans to expand flights to U.S.

WASHINGTON – Ethiopian Airlines added a ninth Dreamliner to its fleet Tuesday and plans to expand its U.S. presence with service to Los Angeles by June 2015 "if everything goes as expected," CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told USA TODAY on Wednesday.

The airline already has daily flights to Washington's Dulles airport from Addis Ababa, with nonstops heading to Africa. But because of the capital's 7,700-foot elevation, flights heading to Washington stop in Rome and would stop in Dublin for Los Angeles.

"It's a very tough challenge for engines, for pilots," Gebremariam said. "The 777ER is the longest-range airplane in the world, but even then it cannot make it from Addis to Washington. It is flying from Addis to Beijing."

The airline has quadrupled in size during the last decade, with 68 planes flying to 18 domestic airports and 82 international destinations on five continents.

DAY IN THE SKY: Ethiopian Air becomes 1st outside Japan to fly Dreamliner (August 2012)
PHOTOS: See what it was like to be on Ethiopian Airlines' Dreamliner delivery flight

Gebremariam was Washington for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, where he called announcements of $33 billion in public and private U.S. investment in his continent "very encouraging."

"Of course, we have isolated problems here and there," Gebremariam said. "But overall the continent is doing well. The growth is very impressive."

He acknowledged the challenges of dealing with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and avoiding conflict zones around the globe. But he said Africa is a popular and growing tourist destination with attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park.

"We encourage American tourists to visit," Gebremariam said, where the entire continent is just a connecting flight away. "You will be connecting to 49 destinations all over the continent in a couple of hours."

While some airlines have scrapped flights to nations struggling to contain Ebola, Ethiopian Airlines doesn't fly directly to three countries hit hardest by the outbreak: Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The outbreak has killed nearly 900 people so far in those nations.

Gebremariam said the airline is taking precautions urged by the World Health Organization to monitor passengers and crew members, and preparing a quarantine area in case a sick passenger arrives.

"We are taking all the precautions," he said. "Fortunately we don't fly to those affected places."

Ethiopia is surrounded by conflict zones, however. The Federal Aviation Administration has warnings for U.S. airlines about portable anti-aircraft weapons in Kenya, with suggestions to fly at least 20,000 feet above Somalia, at least 15,000 feet above Congo and 24,000 feet above Mali and Egypt's Sinai.

The concerns were revived with the shooting down July 17 of a Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine. The FAA banned U.S. flights to Israel's airport in Tel Aviv for about 36 hours because of threatening rockets from Gaza.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents 240 airlines worldwide, and the International Civil Aviation Organization, a branch of the United Nations that recommends policies, are developing standards for better warnings about where commercial airliners should avoid flying.

"We are trying to stay away from these places," he said. "Fortunately all our European flights go through Egypt, so they avoid Syria, Iraq and Ukraine. We don't fly over Libya, although it's a little more costly to avoid Libya on some flights."

As a precaution, the airline suspended a couple of flights to Tel Aviv, where Gebremariam was attending a meeting during the crisis. But flights resumed after assurances from the Israeli government, he said.

"It seems to be getting better now," he said.

In July 2013, a setback for the airline was a fire aboard a parked 787 Dreamliner at London's Heathrow airport, which was repaired and returned to service in December.

"We are satisfied with the repair and we are also satisfied with the Dreamliner," he said. "Now things are going well. We are using them about 14 hours a day, which is very high by any airline standard."

Passengers like the larger windows, less noise and the higher humidity in the cabin, which over longer flights reduces jet lag and fatigue, Gebremariam said.

"When it takes off, the lift is amazing," he said.

Ebola Scare at London-Gatwick Proves False

The outbreak of the Ebola virus in west Africa has the entire world on edge, so when an elderly woman began sweating and vomiting, and later collapsed on the gangway on Saturday at London-Gatwick Airport, fears ran rampant on a Gambia Bird flight that originated in Sierra Leone on Saturday.

The 72-year old woman later died in a London hospital and tests came back negative for Ebola, but not before widespread panic raced through the 128 passengers on the flight and at Gatwick Airport.

Ebola has killed more than 700 in west Africa, including more than 250 in Sierra Leone.

Officials quickly quarantined the plane and began tracking down anyone who might have had contact with the woman. A Gatwick spokeswoman told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that the plane, as well as some airline and airport staff, were briefly quarantined "as a precaution." The Gambia Bird flight later made its return trip.

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global public health at Public Health England, told the BBC there was no health risk to other passengers or crew, as the passenger did not have the symptoms during the flight.

"It was considered very unlikely to be a case of Ebola but testing was done as a precaution, and was negative,” he said. “The correct procedures were followed to confirm there was no reason to quarantine the airplane, the passengers or staff. PHE can confirm there was no public health risk around the sad death of this individual."

Passenger Dies on US Airways Flight

A 58-year old woman died this morning aboard a US Airways flight from Honolulu to Phoenix as the plane descended into Sky Harbor International Airport, officials said.

The woman was identified as Terrie Wu.

According to the Arizona Republic, Wu was traveling with a relative on the red-eye overnight flight, US Airways flight 693, and died about an hour before the plane landed at 7 a.m. Phoenix time.

Firefighters and medical personnel were at the airport waiting when officials from Sky Harbor called in the emergency and said a woman had lost consciousness aboard the incoming flight.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A medical examiner’s report is pending.

British Airways, Emirates Suspend Flights Over Ebola Scare

British Airways and Emirates Airlines have both suspended flights to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, the three West African nations plagued by the Ebola virus.

More than 1,400 people have been infected and more than 800 have died from the deadly virus, which has created a worldwide scare that Ebola-infected travelers will create a global plague through international flights.

BA has suspended its four-times-a-week flight that departs London and heads to Sierra Leone and on to Liberia, while Emirates has suspended its daily flight to Conakry, Guinea. That flight originated in Dubai, flew to Guinea and continued on to Dakar, Senegal; Emirates said it will now just fly straight to Dakar “until further notice.”

In a statement sent to travel agents and travel companies, British Airways said its “services from London Heathrow to Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Monrovia (Liberia) will be temporarily suspended from tomorrow, 6 August until 31 August 2014, due to the deteriorating public health situation in both countries.”

Air France, which flies to all three West African nations, has begun to take its own medical precautions. In a statement, Air France said passengers must fill in a questionnaire and have their temperature taken within the airport itself.

“They are only given their boarding card if no medical symptoms are present,” the airline said.

Ethiopian Airlines receives ninth Dreamliner

PRESS RELEASE

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has received its ninth 787 Dreamliner, dubbed “Great Wall of China”, on August 3, 2014.

Ethiopian, an aircraft technology leader in Africa, was the first outside Japan to receive the ultramodern aircraft back in August 2012 and currently operates the largest 787 fleet in the continent.

“For almost seven decades, Ethiopian has been playing a pioneering role in African aviation by providing its esteemed customers the most technologically advanced aircraft he industry has to offer. The 787 is our core flet on our fast expanding mid and long range routes. In China alone, we operate this aircraft in our daily flights to Beijng in combination with the 77, Shanghai and now to Hong Kong with the delivery of this 9th 787. In aditon to China, Ethiopian 787 flies to India, Europe, the US, Brazil and Africa. Going forward, we will continue to expand our 787 destinations with the aim of providing to our esteemed customers the ultimate on-board comfort”, said Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

The sale has been extended

Ethiopian 787 offers unique features, which enhance passenger comfort such as greatly reduced noise, higher cabin humidity, biggest windows in the sky, lighting adaptable to the outside environment, wider aisles, more headroom and more seating flexibility.

Ethiopian is a Pan-African global carrier with the youngest fleet in the continent with an average age of less than 7 years and currently serves 82 international destinations across 5 continents with over 20 daily departures.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 82 international destinations across five continents.

Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 77-300 ER, Boeing 77-200LR, Boeing 77-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-40 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award wining airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.

For more information about this pres release, please contact: Manager PR & Publications Ethiopian Airlines Tel: (251-1) 517-84-07

Eritrea will host the next Russian Heavy military Exercises on water

Asmara (HAN) August 4, 2014 – Defense and Security News update. In Eritrea, military, academic, business and media circles, there is breathless excitement about the rise of Russia and the US decline, they assume as its inevitable corollary. There is an announcement that Russia’s Defense Ministry will hold drills for reservists in all of the country’s military commands in August-October. Now comes yet another announcement, this time that Russia’s will be holding military exercises this week involving 100 aircraft in the west of the country near the Ukraine border. This kind of activity mean that Russia is saber-rattling or somehow threatening regional security and stability, while is getting ready for war with NATO. Russia also has another announcement, this time that Russia will be holding military exercises in Eritrea soon this year, according to the sources from Eritrean diplomat in Europe, who told Geeska Afrika Online.

Such Eritrean water exercises are primarily designed to test the readiness of the Russian armed forces, and it is quite possible that this is indeed their main goal at this time is to have a base in Eritrean Red Sea ports, but one important side effect of such activity is to overwhelm the surveillance capabilities of the Russian defense forces in the Red Sea, after the Cold war.

To the extent that Eritrea and Russian government thinks current US policy really resembles Cold War containment, this reflects woeful ignorance of US strategy during the Cold War and now. But the current regional militarization in the regions rests on an assumption that America has had its day and that Russia and China’s burgeoning gross domestic product will translate directly into predominant power which American partners in the region has to start heeding.

The Horn of Africa defense and security analyst argued elsewhere that, far from becoming a liability, Eritrea’s strategic relationship with the Russia is becoming more important, after Obama rejected Eritrean president to attend US-Africa Summit in Washington, that conviction is made stronger by an important new article by Geeska Afrika Online in its Page- Regional defense and Security.

Similar military Exercise will happen in Eritrea in three Months: Russian Heavy military pontoon exercise again will took place in Eritrea’s red sea region. More than 600 servicemen and 150 units of engineer equipment from all the military districts will be

Reason Russia Moving to Africa’s Strategic port of Eritrea: Russia’s foreign ministry complained vocally about the sanctions, criticizing the U.S. for “advancing baseless claims” about its role in Ukraine in a “pretentious, prosecutorial manner.” It criticized the EU for allowing its policy to be “dictated by Washington.”

in a Neighbouring Eritrea, Djibouti: US naval vessels and aircraft used Djibouti’s facilities, and the 2 countries perform joint military exercises. US military and economic aid was $7 million in 2000. This included $2.7 million in emergency food aid, $2 million to start a humanitarian demining program, and $100,000 for self-help, democracy and human rights. The country retained close relations with France and other Western nations, as well as with Islamic states. In addition to the US precense, Djibouti was also home to France’s largest foreign military base as of 2002. Djibouti was host to several thousand French military personnel, including the 13e Démi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère (13e DBLE – 13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion).

Djibouti’s military Strategy is a major, well-equipped, international port, whose management had been recently turned over to a Dubai-based company. Ethiopia, a landlocked country, was the main user of the port. Fairly good roads linked all the small towns to the capital city of Djibouti. The infrastructure still needed much improvement, as paved roads still were not extensive by the early 2000s. Djibouti had an international airport, which could handle large aircraft such as the Boeing 747.
- See more at: http://www.geeskaafrika.com/eritrea-will-host-the-next-russian-heavy-military-exercises-on-water/4751/#sthash.lVeoV6hp.dpuf

How Ethiopians in the US cling onto their heritage

The traditional music plays and children, some dressed in Ethiopian costume, perform a traditional dance: Raising and lowering their shoulders to the beat.

Like millions of other children in the United States, these American-Ethiopians are at summer camp.

However, this one is about maintaining their connection with their roots abroad.

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Hermela Kebede, runs Washington's Ethiopian Community Centre
They still have to keep their heritage - that's who they are, and it will make them proud”

Hermela Kebede
Ethiopian Community Centre
The camp, which is for about 35 children, is at the Ethiopian Community Centre.

It is in a regular office block on one of the main roads out of the US capital, Washington DC.

A 21-minute drive away is the grand venue where African heads of state and President Barak Obama are discussing US-Africa relations.

As the leaders try to negotiate a new phase of that relationship, the Ethiopian diaspora community is grappling with how it should relate to back home.

Estimates vary, but there are thought to be more than 200,000 Ethiopians in the Washington metropolitan area, by far the city's largest and most visible African diaspora group.

While integrated into American life, many of them do not want to lose that connection and are keen for their children to know where they have come from.

American-Ethiopian children at Washington's Ethiopian Community Centre
Dancing is one of the ways Ethiopian-Americans are encouraged to connect with their heritage
Mikiyess at Ethiopian summer camp in Washington
Children, like Mikiyess, are taught to speak Amharic as part of their cultural education
"They are here in the United States, but they still have to keep their heritage," says Hermela Kebede, who runs the community centre.

"That's who they are, and it will make them proud."

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I speak Amharic, but English is my first language and I have more things from America”

Eight-year-old Mikiyess
In another room, the children are listening to an Ethiopian folktale being read in one of Ethiopia's languages, Amharic.

It is part of the effort to ensure they keep up their language skills as well as learn traditional stories.

Eight-year-old Mikiyess listens carefully.

He left Ethiopia with his family when he was two and has some vague memories of what life was like there.

He clearly gets the message of the camp.

"You need to learn about your culture," he says in a flawless American accent.

"Because you can't just learn about another culture and think, 'Oh, I'm from that culture', you have to think about your old culture too."

Jokes and ignorance
But asked if he is more American or more Ethiopian, Mikiyess is hesitant, but admits feeling more American.

"I speak Amharic, but English is my first language and I have more things from America. I have a portion of things from Ethiopia and I eat a lot of the food."

He reckons that from just watching his mother cook he now knows how to prepare the traditional dishes.

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The BBC visited Little Ethiopia in the US capital in 2013
Mikiyess looks set to grow up to be a fully-fledged member of the Ethiopian-American community, and join the thousands of others who are comfortable with a dual identity.




There seems to be a growing confidence amongst many of them.

Some who arrived in the 1970s and 1980s had endure a lot of ignorance about their home.

Ethiopian-born singer Wayna Wondwossen remembers being at high school at the time of the famine in Ethiopia in 1984.
"I have vivid memories of people making jokes about me, saying I was the fattest Ethiopian they had ever seen."

Now she writes and sings about her identity.

Her latest album, The Expats, is a celebration of being different.

Many Ethiopian-Americans, who have become financially successful, are now looking to invest their money back home.

One group of medics, for example, plans to build a new private hospital in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with money from investors as well as their own.

They hope the hospital will be as good as any facility in the US or Europe.

Melaku Negussie, who is co-ordinating the project for the Ethio-American Doctors Group, admits that there is money involved and a hoped-for return, but he says this is not just about the cash.

"Some of the doctors have actually told us that they're committed to going back to Ethiopia to work, when this hospital opens," he adds.

"There is an emotional attachment to their country and to them this is a wonderful opportunity to give back and be part of something transformational."

Backlit people dance at sunset in Omo valley, south Ethiopia
Most Ethiopian immigrants arrived in America in the 1990s after the Eritrean-Ethiopian war
That emotional attachment is clear to see at the Ethiopian community centre.

Camp counsellor Megidelawit Yirefu works as the camp's dance teacher.

She came to the US when she was nine and is proud of her identity.

She now wants to pass her passion on to the children.

"My parents embrace a lot of my culture from Ethiopia, which reminds me of home and how I used to eat those foods," she says.

"So culture helps me identify with who I am as an Ethiopian-American and stand out from the crowd."