TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Stakeholders in Bulawayo have hailed the introduction of Ethiopian Airlines flights to the city saying the move will boost the tourism sector as well as easing international travels.
The airline is set to fly into Bulawayo for the first time on October 30, 2022. The airline will fly four weekly services from Addis Ababa to Bulawayo through Victoria Falls.
It was already flying into Harare and Victoria Falls.
In an interview, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association secretary for administration, Thembelani Dube said it would enhance movement of people to different destinations.
“We live in a global village and Bulawayo is part of that global village. The coming in of Ethiopian Airlines will boost tourism,” Dube said.
He said residents should embrace the coming in of the new airline as it will put Bulawayo on spotlight due to the coming in of different visitors and also enhance the movement of people from Bulawayo to other destinations.
Fungai Ndoro, sales representative for the Ethiopian Airlines, said business people are able to transport their cargo directly to Bulawayo.
“This would be great for people of Bulawayo because they no longer have to fly into Harare and then drive to Bulawayo.
This would be good especially if they are traders and businesspersons. They can now transport their cargo also directly into Bulawayo. It would be cheaper for them as well. This would be good for any business person in Bulawayo,” Ndoro said.
Airports Company of Zimbabwe public relations officer Tonderai Mangombe said: “This is a good sign to show that our sky is open.”
Authorities have attributed the growing interest in the country by foreign airlines to improved aviation infrastructure.
