"Ethiopian Airlines has planned to open a new flight services to/from Enugu in the coming season but the flight will most likely not start next month". This is a reply to a query about the first flight to Enugu announced by President Jonathan The management of Ethiopian Airlines through the PR officer confirmed that truly Enugu is on the cards This is according to an email from Addis Ababa The email is in response to a query from atqnews.com because of the sceptism expressed on facebook by a powerful Enugu online group the "Enugu Old School" (EOS) that the whole scheme is a votecatching trick similar to the Onitsha sea port scheme by NPN and Onitsha/ Owerri Road pledge of former President Obasanjo.
NPN was the ruling party in Nigeria in 1979 civilian rule. They promised the Igbo's a Sea Port in Onitsha that never became functional. President Obasanjo had also laid the foundation stone for a road Project to Owerri from Onitsha that he never built,hence the doubt of the sincerity of this promise by President Jonathan. Despite having the largest population of Traders in Nigeria the South East does not have a seaport or an International Airport. Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines depend on Igbo traders going to Dubai,Bangkok,Guangzhou and Hong Kong for survival in Nigeria, so more Igbo fly on ET than on British Airways hence the choice of ET as the launch Airline.
Former President Obasanjo while campaigning in Owerri told his listeners that the Igbo's do not need an international airport and should stop being Jealous of Port Harcourt international Airport. This was at a time an Owerri woman Dr.Kemal Chikwe was the Minister of Aviation. It was an accepted fact that Nigeria has agreed to keep the south east land locked and dependent on Lagos and Port Harcourt for movement,so most Igbo's doubt the genuineness of this airport project.
Enugu Old School an NGO driven by people who grew up in Enugu in the 70's and 80's and now live mostly in the Diaspora with over 3,000 members show interest in any matter that concerns Enugu city. Despite not all coming from Enugu state they have taken up charity issues concerning a nostalgic coal city of Enugu as they know it. They have rebuilt the Chesire Home in Enugu and are working on other projects in Enugu.
On a Facebook page promoted by Chris Odili who was a famous DJ in Enugu in the 80's,but now a security consultant in UK, Enugu stakeholders had issues with the proclamation doubting it's credibility considering the past failed promises.
With this email from Addis Ababa confirming Jonathans declaration it should put to rest all speculations about the viability of the idea.
According to a story in Vanguard newspapers "— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has fulfilled his campaign promise to Ndigbo of the South Eastern zone of the country by approving the take off an international airport and the proposed establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Enugu to boost the economy of the zone. The President commissioned the remodelled terminal of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, weekend, with an assurance that the first international flight by Ethiopian Airline would take off from the airport next month.
He said the upgrade of Enugu airport was one of the key requests he received from the people of the South East during his campaign in 2011, adding that he promised to bring about the transformation of the economy by opening up the international wing of the airport.
The President said: ”This is the fulfillment of that promise. I am grateful that this promise is being fulfilled through key interventions not only here at the Akanu Ibiam international airport, Enugu, but also at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri and other major sectors. We shall not relent until every promise we made is fulfilled.
”With Enugu hosting a brand new runway and a newly remodelled terminal, the South East region of Nigeria will be saying to the world we are open for business.”
Laying the foundation of the new international terminal of the airport, a project expected to be completed in December 2014, the president said when completed, the airport would lift about 500,000 international passengers each year as well as facilitate the export of farm produce from Nigeria.
He said the South East was a land-locked area, stressing that “if there is any zone in this country that really needs international airport, it is the South East because most other zones have access to the sea but the South East is land-locked, even when the people of the zone are more in commerce, industry and are the most travelled "
Ethiopian Airlines flies some of the Best Aircraft in the world mainly Boeing airplanes in the range of B777,B757, and were the first airline outside Japan to fly B787 Dreamliner.Ethiopian Airlines is one of the biggest Airlines in Africa and flies to over 37 destinations in Africa.Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Africa, made its maiden international flight to Cairo in 1946 and now the Airline provides dependable services to 72 international destinations spanning four continents. Ethiopian is proud to be a Star Alliance Member. The Star Alliance network is the leading global airline network offering customers convenient worldwide reach and a smoother travel experience. The Star Alliance network offers more than 21,555 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries
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