Travellers who need to move between Africa and Europe now have a greater number of flights to choose from after Ethiopian Airlines started offering trips to Milan.

Ethiopian Airlines' first flight to the Italian city left Addis Ababa on July 2nd 2011 and with the addition of Milan to the schedule, the carrier now offers flights to two destinations in the European nation.

Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines, said the route will "reduce travel time between Ethiopia and northern Italy [and] will also create vital connectivity between Africa and southern Germany, Switzerland and other southern European countries."

Holidaymakers and business travellers will be able to travel the route with Ethiopian Airlines on every weekday and all trips will be direct flights.

Ethiopian Airlines currently has 47 aircraft in its fleet and a further 33 on order, including ten 787 DreamLiner jets from Boeing.

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