Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM, is to start it’s twice weekly service to Addis Ababa on 31^st March 2005, as part of the furthering relations between the Netherlands and Ethiopia. Effective from the end of the month, flight KL541 Amsterdam-Khartoum-Addis Ababa-Amsterdam will depart from Bole International Airport on Thursdays and Saturdays on an extended Boeing 767.

At a press conference on 18^th March launching the service, HE Rob Vermaas - the Netherlands Ambassador - said that the new flight is a part of agreements reached between the two governments, which previously saw Ethiopian Airlines begin flights to Amsterdam in December 2001.

When the Netherland’s Embassy first announced the introduction of the service back on 24^th November 2004, it said that the start of KLM flights would fit in with the Dutch policy in Ethiopia “to support and expand trade relations and investment between our two countries.” The recent international floricultural exhibition held in the United Nations Conference Hall in Addis Ababa and successful trade missions between Ethiopia and the Netherlands are also expected to encourage greater numbers of Dutch businessman into the country.

Speaking at the recent press launch KLM Eastern Africa General Manager, Pieter de Man, said that a special agreement had also been reached with Ethiopian Airlines.

"KLM and Ethiopian have signed an agreement whereby on special occasions, passengers from Amsterdam could arrive in Addis through KLM and be passed on to Ethiopian Airlines to be taken to their destinations and vice versa. This does not mean that we are full fledged partners, but we do have a commercial agreement," de Man said.

De Man went on to say the start of KLM’s flights would enable Ethiopia to expand the export of goods such as flowers, vegetables and fruits on to the Dutch and European markets.

"Starting flight services in Ethiopia has been on our minds for the past ten years, but it never happened due to duty constraint and economic downsize," he said. "We believe that this new flight service will assist the blooming flower industry in Ethiopia. Our flights have the capacity to transport flowers, vegetables and fruits via its direct return route," he added.

The plane is equipped with enough space to transport 220 passengers and still have enough space in its hold to carry 15,000 kilos of cargo, assuming that the flight is a full one. If the number of passengers is low, the plane can carry up to 30,000 kilos of cargo.

"Ethiopia has the potential to become a major tourist site and some tour operators operating out of Holland have given me a very positive response by welcoming the idea.”

De Man also staid that the cargo space on the first flight had already been sold out, demonstrating the demand for the service, and illustrating that there would greater contact between the Netherlands and the blooming horticulture market in Ethiopia.

“Our airline has 500 combined network destinations, making it the biggest in the world and we are proud to add Ethiopia to that number," de Man said.

ENDS