Abyssinia Ballooning to Launch Flight in Hawassa, Sidama
Abyssinia Ballooning, Ethiopia’s first hot air balloon company is planning to start flying from Debre Zeit, Awassa and Bahir Dar soon in addition to its Addis Ababa flight. Abyssinia Ballooning is set to keep building its balloon fleet and expects its second-passenger balloon before the end of 2013. In February 2012, the innovative recreational company made its first flight over Addis Ababa. Since the beginning of Abyssinia Ballooning’s operation, more than 30 balloon flights have followed and over 300 Ethiopians and foreigners have enjoyed ballooning in Ethiopia. Abyssinia Ballooning (AB) is an initiative of the Dutch ballooning company Virgin Balloon Flights (a licensee of the renowned Virgin brand of the Englishman Sir Richard Branson) and a local Ethiopian business partner. Research on feasibility of flight areas in Ethiopia started early as the end of 2010. When the flight areas turned out to be good to fly balloons an extensive business plan was written and