Addis Ababa, 01 August 2015 (WIC) - President Barack Obama of the United States of America has hailed the growth of Ethiopian Airlines as the largest commercial airline in Africa.

A statement made available to Saturday PUNCH by the company, said the US President, who was recently in the East African country, discussed the airline’s commitment to have environmental friendly airplanes with its Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam.

The statement read in part, “The President was very happy to see the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ethiopian flag and he thanked Ethiopian Airlines for being a very good long-time customer of Boeing and the USA.

“He said he had visited the factories in which they are made. He asked for the number of B-787 Dreamliners’ ET operates and Ato Tewolde replied to the President that Ethiopian has 13 in service and eight on order.”

The airline said it flies to 91 international destinations in five continents, including 52 destinations in Africa, 24 in the Middle East and Asia and 12 in Europe. (www.punchng.com)