- April 8, 2025
- Posted by: cyril
- Category: Embassy Activities
Officials of Ethiopian Airlines recently paid a courtesy visit to Her Excellency Haja Ishata Thomas, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the State of Kuwait, to discuss collaboration with the Embassy to showcase Sierra Leone’s untapped tourist and investment potential to the Kuwait market.
Ethiopian Airlines recently announced the commencement of direct commercial flights from the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Sierra Leone, easing passengers’ ordeal in long layover schedules. The inaugural flight from the Kuwait International Airport (KWI) to the Freetown International Airport (FNA) is scheduled for 31st May 2024.
Welcoming the officials, Ambassador Haja Ishata Thomas thanked the airline authorities for initiating direct flights to Sierra Leone, stressing that the move would enable Kuwaitis, especially investors and tourists, to visit Sierra Leone frequently to explore the small mineral-rich West African nation’s untapped opportunities.
“Sierra Leone is endowed with strategic natural resources ranging from diamonds, gold, iron ore, rutile, bauxite, coltan, to zircon, beautiful landscapes with pristine beaches stretched several kilometres along the peninsula, spectacular islands, undulated hills and mountains and hospitable people with receptive culture. The country’s capital sits near the Atlantic Ocean, making it a hub for business, as it has one of the largest natural harbours in the world,” she explained.
Nega Ababor, Area Manager of the Ethiopian Airlines Group Kuwait, revealed that Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest Aviation Group and one of the most trusted airlines. Appreciating Sierra Leone’s willingness to accommodate their airline, he added that they would collaborate with the Embassy in various ways to promote Sierra Leone’s tourism potential in Kuwait. He appealed for the Embassy’s support, as well as for Sierra Leoneans residing in Kuwait to work with the airline for effective service delivery.
The move to commence direct flights from Kuwait to Sierra Leone will significantly improve the aviation sector and impact the tourism industry in Sierra Leone, thereby increasing passenger traffic and flight frequency to the Freetown International Airport (FNA). In December 2023, the Republic of Sierra Leone and Ethiopia signed the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), a significant step toward finalising direct flights to Freetown.
Cyril Barnes,
Information Attaché,
Sierra Leone Embassy, the State of Kuwait
Email: information.attache@kw.slembassy.gov.sl