Ethiopian Airlines has made a historic move in resuming its direct flights to Karachi, Pakistan, after a 19-year hiatus. The flight, ET 694, landed at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi with 110 passengers on board, including senior Ethiopian diplomats, officials, and a trade delegation. The airline received a grand welcome at the Old Terminal upon arrival, where they were greeted by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and his delegation.
This is not the first time Ethiopian Airlines has operated direct flights to Karachi. The airline had previously offered the service in the 1960s and 1990s before discontinuing it. The airline resumed the service for the third time on May 9, 2023, after nearly two decades.
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The airline’s Twitter account shared the announcement, stating that “Ethiopian Airlines is pleased to announce that it has commenced four times weekly direct flights to Karachi, Pakistan.” The flight departed from Addis Ababa with a delay of 52 minutes but still arrived at the Jinnah International Airport one minute before the scheduled time.
The four-hour and 25-minute flight was operated using a brand new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, which will also leave for Addis Ababa in flight ET 695. Ethiopian Airlines plans to operate four weekly flights from Addis Ababa to Karachi.
During a press conference in Karachi, the Ethiopian ambassador to Pakistan, Jamal Beker Abdula, expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani government for playing a vital role in restoring air connectivity between the two countries. The ambassador also highlighted the potential benefits of direct flights for promoting trade and tourism between Ethiopia and Pakistan.
The resumption of direct flights between Ethiopia and Pakistan is a significant step in enhancing bilateral relations and promoting economic growth between the two nations. The move is expected to boost trade and investment opportunities, as well as enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
