For the first time in the history of the company, Ethiopian Airlines has begun flights to Liberia, with the first flight arriving at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) over the weekend. Ethiopian Airlines announced the opening of services to Monrovia as part of its first wave of destinations that will be added on its route network on October 25, 2009, including Mombasa, Kenya and Conakry, Guinea. The new service will link Monrovia to cities throughout Asia, the Middle East, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Delhi, Beijing and Guangzhou, via Ethiopia's renowned hub at Addis Ababa's international airport. The new service to Monrovia, Mombasa and Conakry brings the airline's total destinations in Africa to 36 and to 57 worldwide. The Chief Operations Officer for the airline, Tewolde Gebre Mariam disclosed, “Ethiopia's new flights from Monrovia are a testament to our confidence in Africa. By providing more options for travel from Monrovia, we hope to contribute to the Liberian economy and at the same time introduce Ethiopian's famous hospitality to the people of Monrovia.”    

Ethiopia Airlines, Monrovia Airline Manager, Binet Tewfik said, “The first flight that arrived on October 25, 2009 at the RIA brought along fifty-three passengers in a plane that seats one hundred and seventy passengers with one hundred forty-four in the economy seats and sixteen in the business class.” Mr. Tewfik concluded, “Ethiopia Airlines is going to prove that it has the best service.” Ethiopia Airlines, one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa, made its maiden flight to Cairo in 1946. In July 2009, Ethiopia won 'Airline of the Year 2009' award at African Business Award organized by the London based African Business Magazine and Common Wealth Business Council.