Ethiopian Airlines expands network to 81 airports across Africa

Ethiopian Airlines has further expanded its network, now reaching 81 airports across Africa from its hub in Addis Ababa.

The airline recently launched flights to Freetown, Sierra Leone on May 31, and to Maun, Botswana on June 10, adding these cities to its roster of destinations.

In addition to the new international routes, Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights to Axum, Ethiopia, on June 9, after suspending service in 2021. The airline is also set to commence flights to Nekemte, a new airport in Ethiopia, starting June 17, 2024.

According to the Airline, the new route to Maun will operate three times a week with a 160-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The first flight on June 10 used an ET-AVM aircraft, which has been part of the fleet since June 2018.

“The new thrice-weekly flight will enable Maun to connect seamlessly to Ethiopian more than 135 international destinations,” the Airline said.

Maximise connection opportunities

The Airline said the timing of the flights has been designed to maximise connection opportunities.

Booking data shows that most long-haul passengers travelling to Maun are from Europe, with London being the largest market.

The celebration of Ethiopian Airlines' inaugural flight to Maun brought together government representatives of Botswana and executives of the Airlines. (Photo: Ethiopian Airlines)

Other significant sources of passengers include Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris, and Amsterdam. Despite the demand being relatively low, the airline said it has structured the service to maintain efficiency and connectivity.

Ethiopian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Lemma Yadecha Gudeta, hinted last year at the possibility of resuming service to Amsterdam, although no specific timeline was provided.

Among Ethiopian Airlines' 81 African destinations, 60 are international, spanning 39 countries. The airline serves four cities each in Nigeria and Somalia, making them the countries with the most Ethiopian Airlines destinations.

It also serves three cities each in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Nine countries, including Botswana, now have two destinations each, while 25 countries have one destination each.

In the week starting June 16, the Airline said Johannesburg and Entebbe will be the most frequently served destinations from Addis Ababa, with four daily flights each. Kigali will follow with 18 weekly flights.

A further 47 destinations will receive between one and two daily flights. The 10 destinations with less frequent service include Beira, Blantyre, Bangui, Bulawayo, Malabo, Nosy Be, Enugu, Freetown, Maun, and Bosaso, with flights ranging from two to five times per week.