By: Yusuf M Hasan

ADDIS ABABA (Somalilandsun) – Suspended Ethiopian Airline flights will be resumed in early June of this year.

This was revealed in statement released by the airliner in its Addis Ababa headquarters where it indicated that Ethiopian Airlines will operate daily flights to Hargeisa using its Q400 aircraft, with three morning and four afternoon flights as of 10 June 2012.

Ethiopian Airlines, which is the fastest growing airline in Africa, pulled out of the Addis Ababa-Hargeisa route following a bomb attack by Al-shabaab in its Hargeisa offices in 2008.

The attack by Al-shabaab on the 28th October 2008 saw simultaneous explosions by suicide bombers occur at the Ethiopian airline and UNDP offices as well as the presidency in Hargeisa. 23 people staffers at the three offices lost their lives while 30 others sustained serious injuries.

At the presidency which acts as the offices and official residency of the Somaliland president, a number of senior personalities lost their lives, among them the personal secretary to the then president Dahir Rayale, a member of Guurti the Upper house of parliament, Hargeisa regional Chief of Intelligence.

The UNDP lost several among them its then senior security officer while Ethiopian Airlines lost a number of its Hargeisa staff as well as customers who were following up on bookings.

The announcement of flight resumption Ethiopian airline was received warmly not only by the Somaliland government and citizens but regular Travellers to the country, as Since, the suspension of Ethiopian Airlines flights to Hargeisa in November 2008, travelers between Addis Ababa and Hargeisa have been using bus services operating from Addis Ababa to Jigjiga and from Jigjiga to Hargeisa.

The resumption of air links between Addis Ababa and Hargeisa, in addition to strengthening the trade and people- to-people ties, will enable international travelers from the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas a much more convenient and easy access to Somalia.

Below is a brief description of the airliner as provided in the flights resumption statement?

About Ethiopian.

Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Africa, made its maiden international flight to Cairo in 1946 and now the Airline provides dependable services to 65 international destinations spanning four continents.

Ethiopian is proud to be a Star Alliance Member. The Star Alliance network is the leading global airline network offering customers convenient worldwide reach and a smoother travel experience. The Star Alliance network offers more than 20,000 daily flights to 1,293 airports in 190 countries.

Ethiopian is a multi-award winner for its commitment and contributions towards the development and growth of the African aviation industry and in recognition of its distinguished long-haul operations enhanced by the introduction of new routes and products. Recently, Ethiopian won Gold in the African Airline of the Year 2011/2012 Awards organized by the African Aviation News Portal. Ethiopian also received the 2011 AFRAA award for being consistently profitable over the years and has won the "AFRICAN CARGO AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2011 Award" for its excellence in air cargo. Ethiopian also won the NEPAD Transport Infrastructure Excellence Awards 2009 and "the Airline of the Year 2009 Award" from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

With its acquisition of and firm orders for several new modern fleet, the airline is well positioned to pursue aggressively the implementation of its 2025 strategic plan to become the leading aviation group in Africa.