Ethiopia and Philippines concluded an agreement to allow their respective flag carriers to mount flights between one another.

Commenting on the development Carmelo Arcilla, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director, said; "The Philippines and Ethiopia signed yesterday in Manila an Air Services Agreement (ASA) that defined the aviation relationship and the exchange of traffic rights between the two countries,"

The agreement is going to enable seven flights to take place between Ethiopia and Manila in a week time. In addition to this the agreement will give flights between Ethiopia and airports in Philippines other than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Arcilla furthered “The agreement also allows intermediate stops in Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, India and the Middle East".

The Executive Director noted Ethiopia wanted the air agreement given its aggressive expansion in Asia.

"Although the current traffic between the Philippines and Ethiopia is small, the ASA can open up new connectivities between the Philippines and Africa, including the Middle East, given Ethiopia's location in North East Africa and it's being an aviation hub in that region, that serves as a transit point for passengers from other African countries and the Middle East," he furthered.

"The agreement therefore offers opportunities for the enhancement of our air connectivity and the development of our aviation network, especially that Africa is an emerging market and growth area," Arcilla added.

Source: Inter Aksyon