…Singapore Tourism, Changi airport authority woo Nigerians to exciting, alluring sights
By Sade Williams
Ethiopian Airline said it will recommence direct flight operations to Singapore from its hub in Addis Ababa on June 1, 2017.
Speaking at a programme in Lagos on Thursday, to announce the resumption of flights between the two countries, Solomon Begashaw, General Manager, Ethiopian airline in Nigeria, said all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a five weekly flights for a start, adding that all its customers stand to benefit hugely from the codeshare agreement on which the flight is being initiated.
He said apart from the 53 destinations that the airline flies to in Africa, customers will have access to other destinations that Singapore airline, being a member of star alliance, operates to.
“We have series of innovative products to offer our customers on these routes like we have done over the years, they now have unlimited access to destinations covered by these Star alliance airlines”, he said.
Begasahw, who explained that the airline still maintains its target of $10 billion revenue by 2025, added that massive investment is going on in the company, disclosing further that Ethiopian is now ready to restart this flight because it has the right equipment.
“At that time, we were not operating then with the right equipment. Then our orders were on the line, some of the airplanes we planned to use had not arrived then. Now, everything is in order, opening Singapore direct to Addis Ababa and also, we have the right equipment, the right resource to restart this market”, he added.
Also speaking, Mohamed Firhan Abdul Salam , Area Director, Middle East and Africa International Group Singapore Tourism Board, described Singapore as ‘a magical country’, adding that it boasts of exciting and alluring places .
While assuring that their government will relax its visa rules to enable seamless travel, Salam said the Tourism Board was already aware of the visa hassles, adding that the board was discussing with its Embassy to see how genuine travelers can easily procure visa to Singapore.
“I knew I will be inundated with visa questions here today but we are already in dialogue with the Embassy and I can assure you that it will be sorted out, people can travel seamlessly. I don’t think people coming to Singapore face any challenges. Moving around in Singapore is very easy. You can move around in public transport or in your own vehicle. People are friendly. I have not heard of a lot of people having obstacles, challenges once you are in Singapore. I don’t foresee Nigerians having problem when you are in Singapore while you are enjoying your holiday”, he said.
He disclosed that the Changi airport, which is now ranked the 6th best in the world, play host to over 400 retail outlets, including shopping malls, swimming pools and other sites.
The airport, he said currently has three terminals with numerous city links, adding that the fourth terminal is under construction, bearing capacity development in mind.
