Ethiopian celebrates milestone with rose bush donations across North of England

Yorkshire, Manchester and the North East were the top regions to fly with the airline since it launched flights from Manchester Airport last December, with more than 17,000 jetting to Ethiopia or other African destinations. 

To celebrate the rise in flights from the North to Africa, Ethiopian Airlines donated a rose bush and bouquet of Ethiopian roses to Tatton Park in Cheshire, Newby Hall & Gardens near Leeds and Renishaw Hall in Sheffield.

Roses are the biggest export on the airline’s flights to Manchester, bringing in over 26 tonnes each month. Other key cargo includes machinery and garments.

The airline has flown more than 17,000 customers from Manchester Airport’s Terminal Two since services commenced just over a year ago and has helped contribute to the boost in tourism to African countries with popular onward connections to the likes of Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. It has also opened up a host of trade and economic benefits to the North, with connectivity stimulating growth and investment opportunities.

In the first year of flights the airline covered almost 1.5m miles between Manchester and Addis Ababa, serving 34,956 meals and 29,712 coffees.

Traffic and sales manager at Ethiopian Airlines, Timothy Bettney, presented the bushes to the head gardeners at the chosen sites, where they have been planted in iconic rose gardens ahead of summer.

Michael Yohannes, country manager UK from Ethiopian Airlines, said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating our first anniversary at Manchester Airport and we couldn’t think of a better way than bringing a touch of Ethiopia to the North. We are proud to have flown thousands of customers from Manchester and beyond to Ethiopia and some of the other wonderful countries in Africa. The rose bush donation is a symbol of the growth of the airline across the North.”