Ivory Coast is in talks with three African airlines to discuss a flight route to the U.S. as the Western African country wants to attract potential investors to the fast-growing economy. "The most advanced meeting is the Ethiopian airlines enterprise which is due to send a delegation by the end of this month" said Minister of Transport Amadou Kone in a previous interview. African largest carrier by passenger traffic leads Kenya airlines that made "first contact" with the government last week and South African Airways, he said.
"I am pushing for it to happen, that we have a flight at the end of this year or in January of 2018", Kone said in his office in a commercial capital in Abijan, where the flight would depart from. He continued: "I am not saying it is an easy job but I am working on it". The move fits the strategy of Ethiopian which tries to consolidate its lead as the continent's biggest airline with new hubs and already flies to Ivory Coast and the U.S. It would make senseless for South African Airlines, which is relying on a government-led recapitalization to remain in operation. Kenya Airlines, almost 23 percent owned by Air France and KLM, is seeking a partner of the U. S. to operate this transatlantic flight. A direct flight to New York will hook the attraction of potential investors to the Western African country to help this country's position itself as a regional hub, Kone said. This country has expanded by an average 9% per year since year 2012 while President's Alassanec Ouattara's government has lured investors including Carrefour SA to the country and initiated some nation-wise projects such as an urban subway. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorRebellious head, crazy about challenges, changes, passionate about writing. That's all about the author. Archives
July 2018
Categories |