The Ethiopian Airlines (EAL), the country's national carrier, started its direct flights to Libreville, Gabon on Friday, according to the airways sources.

The flight was EAL's 47th international and the 29th continental route, the management said in a news release.

EAL commenced the thrice weekly service to Libreville in response to the demands from business people, tourists and pilgrims to and from Gabon, said the news release.

It said the service provides direct links between Addis Ababa and Cameroon's Doualla port and convenient connections to the rest of Africa, Europe, as well as the middle east and vice versa.

EAL flights to Libreville will bring Gabon to the world and will further catalyze and boost the west African country's economic and social relationships, it said.

EAL says it has secured 104 million birr (12 million U.S. dollars) in profits during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. The money was secured in the nine months since July 2005 despite the ever-increasing price of petroleum.

EAL is a major carrier in Africa. It provides domestic and international air service between Ethiopia and other countries. It has a good safety record and is one of the few profitable African airlines. It also provides training and maintenance to more than a dozen African and middle eastern airlines.

Source: Xinhua