Ethiopian Airlines disclosed it has finalized preparations to commence flying to Tokyo Narita International Airport on Sunday, April 20, 2015. The airline is going to render the service in codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways, which is a Star Alliance member just like Ethiopian.

The flight is going to be the only direct connection between Africa and Japan and it is going to be done via Hong Kong using Boeing Dreamliner aircraft.

The Press Release by Ethiopian Airlines notes it is going to render three times a week.

Commenting on the development Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, said: "As the only direct service between Africa and Japan, our flights to Narita will give our customers the best possible connectivity options and will be critical role in enabling greater people-to-people, investment, trade and tourism ties between a rising Africa, the second fastest growing region in the world, and a highly industrialized Japan, the third largest economy in the world."

Japan is the world’s third largest economy and one of the main financial and economic centers with growing investment, trade and tourism ties with Africa. Flights to the capital of Japan is expected to strengthen investment, trade, tourism and people to people ties between the African continent and Japan.

Source: Ethiopian Airlines Press Release