New route: Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip and Ethiopian Minister of Transportation & Communication Getachew Mengiste sign the air services agreement.

Hong Kong and Ethiopia have signed an air services agreement, providing a legal framework for the establishment of air links between the two places.

Speaking at the signing ceremony today, Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip said: "To enhance Hong Kong's position as an international and regional aviation centre, we will continue to expand our air services network in line with our progressive liberalisation policy in aviation."

Ethiopia has an extensive aviation network for eastern and central Africa. More air links between Hong Kong and Ethiopia will encourage more passenger and cargo traffic between eastern and central Africa and Asia to flow through Hong Kong. At present, Ethiopian Airlines is providing three weekly passenger services between Hong Kong and Addis Ababa.

The agreement with Ethiopia is Hong Kong's 56th air services agreement with foreign aviation partners.