Equatorial Guinea Airline Inaugurates Service To Europe

Ceiba Intercontinental Adds Malabo – Madrid Route

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea's national airline, Ceiba Intercontinental, made its historic first intercontinental flight on October 4 from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Madrid. Ceiba will service the route with a newly acquired Boeing 777 aircraft.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation of Equatorial Guinea purchased the aircraft as the first step in the government's efforts to meet the growing demand for air service to the country and support its growing economy.

"Flying to Madrid from Malabo, on board an aircraft of this type and owned by Equatorial Guinea, is a dream come true," said Fausto Abeso Fuma, Delegate Minister of Aviation.

Upon his arrival in Spain on the inaugural flight, Agustin Nze Nfumu, Minister of Information, Press and Radio, said, "This flight demonstrates once again to the people of Equatorial Guinea that when President Obiang makes a promise, he fulfills it." He said the new route "is about opening ourselves to the world, and opening the doors of the world to Equatorial Guinea. It is also a great contribution, and pride, that the plane is ours, of Equatorial Guinea. Equatorial Guineans who start taking this flight will feel the satisfaction of being able to fly on a plane from our own country."

Ceiba has scheduled three flights a week on the new Madrid-Malabo route and expects to transport about 150,000 kilos of cargo a year. Ceiba Intercontinental is part of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

On the official presentation of the Boeing 777, on June 4, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo recalled the importance of the national airline, Ceiba, providing competitive transcontinental flights that can help reduce air transportation prices, which he described as necessary and increasingly more pressing as Equatorial Guinea's economy continues to expand.

Ceiba currently offers scheduled service from Bata and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea to several cities in West and Central Africa, including Accra, Ghana; Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Brazzaville, Congo; Douala, Cameroun; Libreville, Gabon; Cotonou, Benin; and Lome, Togo.

Iberia, Air France and Lufthansa currently offer regular scheduled passenger service between Europe and Malabo.

Fausto Abeso Fuma, Delegate Minister of Aviation, Agustin Nze Nfumu, Minister of Information, Press and Radio, and Santiago Nsobeya, Director of Ceiba, were on the inaugural Malabo-Madrid flight.

The inaugural flight was received by the Director of Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), the Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea in Spain, Narciso Ntugu Abeso and other guests.

About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union, 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and 2012 Leon H. Sullivan Summit. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea