Ethiopian Airlines has inaugurated state-of-the-art passenger terminal and its Skylight Hotel recently in the presence of FDRE Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, African Union Chairperson H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki, Ministers, high level government officials, Ethiopian Airlines Board Members, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Executive Management Members and invited guests.
The Prime Minister remarks: “Ethiopian Airlines is our national pride and a special icon among our companies as it carries our common name Ethiopia and our national flag. We would like all employees of the airline here and elsewhere to know that we speak of you with pride. The new hotel inaugurated by Ethiopian Airlines will enable us to attract tourists, and the airline’s offer for employees to own shares of the hotel is important as it boosts sense of ownership among staff, and will serve as a model for other companies to emulate.”
He adds: “What we learn from today’s inauguration of the new passenger terminal is that we have a lot of work ahead of us. We expect the Board and the Management not to be complacent with the new terminal, but rather to aim for a bigger facility with a capacity to accommodate at least 100 million passengers.”
Mr. GebreMariam enthuses: “While Addis Ababa Airport took over Dubai as the largest air transport hub between Africa and the rest of the world, this grand terminal building is further evidence of the development of Bole Airport as one of the largest and most convenient global aviation hubs.”
He explains: “Ethiopian Skylight Hotel will enable the airline to offer packaged tour and travel programs. Moreover, the hotel will enable Ethiopian Airlines to attract around a third of tourists out of the 6 million passengers transiting through Bole Airport to visit Ethiopia.”
The new passenger terminal features the latest technology security systems, self-check-in machines, self-boarding system, comfortable lounges, duty free shops and other amenities.
Ethiopian Skylight Hotel has 373 guest rooms and spacious executive suites, the largest Chinese restaurant in Africa and a conference hall that can accommodate 2500 people, among others.