Domestic Sales, Marketing and Operations Director of Ethiopian Abebe Angessa said Ethiopian had signed a purchase of agreement with the Canadian company to buy eight Bombardier Q400 aircrafts at a cost of 192 million USD.

The director said the remaining seven aircrafts will arrive until the Sept.2010.

He said each aircraft worth 24 million USD has a capcity to carry 72 passengers.

The director said Fokker aircrafts which have been serving for the last 15 years would be replaced by Bombardier Q400 aircrafts.

Abebe said the aircrafts would enable Ethiopian to deliver effective service to domestic flight customers.

He said over 215,000 passengers have been transported and some 59 million birr has been secured over the past six months.

The director said Ethiopian has plans to transport 500,000 passengers and to secure over 100 million birr in this Ethiopian fiscal year.

He attributed the success to increment of tourist flow and investment activities in the country.

The director said Ethiopian is currently is providing domestic flight service with Boeing 737 and Fokker aircrafts.

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