allAfrica.com: Ethiopian Airlines Announced as Official Carrier for Leon H. Sullivan Summit - African Heads of State,U.S Delegates to Convene in Arusha,Tanzania June 2

Ethiopian Airlines Announced as Official Carrier for Leon H. Sullivan Summit - African Heads of State,U.S Delegates to Convene in Arusha,Tanzania June 2 - 6

Ethiopian Airlines was named the official carrier for the 2008 Leon H. Sullivan Summit, announced Hope Masters, President and CEO, Leon H. Sullivan Foundation and Convener of the Summit.

The airline will bring two 767 jetliners from Washington, D.C. to Arusha, Tanzania for the Summit which takes place June 2^nd to 6^th. Although the planes will depart from Dulles International Airport on two separate dates (May 28 and May 30), both flights will arrive in Arusha on May 31^st. Delegates taking the May 28 flight will receive a two night stay in Ethiopia's capital city of Addis Ababa. Those on the May 30^th flight will stop in Zanzibar for one night at the conclusion of the Summit.

"The 2008 Summit marks the first time we are hosting the event in an East African country. It is only fitting that an East African airline such as Ethiopian Airlines embarks on this journey with us," stated Hope Masters. "Many will be seeing Africa for the first time and I am proud that Ethiopian Airlines will not only be the captains of this voyage, but participants in the experience."

As the official charter airline, Ethiopian will be recognized in national and international Summit publicity efforts before and throughout the conference. This includes advertising banners that will run on the Africa Channel's website, www.theafricachannel.com, and All Africa's website, www.allafrica.com. It also will be part of the in country media campaign currently underway in Tanzania and other countries in East Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines, www.ethiopianairlines.com , one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa made its maiden flight to Cairo in 1946. The airline currently serves 50 destinations around the globe, 30 of which are in Africa. The addition of services to Kuwait and Riyadh will bring the total number of the Airline's international destinations to 52. Ethiopian also plans to be the first carrier to operate the Dreamliner-B787 in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Inspired by the life and principles of Leon H. Sullivan, The Sullivan Summits are organized by the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation with the goal of highlighting key issues, stimulating discussion, defining best practices, identifying new opportunities, promoting private enterprise and fostering high-level strategic partnerships.

Notables who have participated in past Summits have included U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Dorothy Height and the late Coretta Scott King. Celebrities including Chris Tucker, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Cicely Tyson and Dick Gregory also have attended past Summits. For more information, go to www.thesullivanfoundation.org/summit .