Etihad launches flights from Abu...

National airlines of UAE and Ethiopia partner to serve growing Middle East-Africa network

The UAE’s national airline Etihad and flag-carrier Ethiopian Airlines have signed a joint venture to enhance connectivity between the Middle East and Africa.

To kick off the partnership, both airlines will start flights between capital cities Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines will begin its service from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Zayed International Airport (AUH) on 15 July 2025, while Etihad will introduce daily flights in the opposite direction from 1 October 2025.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airway, said the partnership would "introduce more Ethiopian travellers to Abu Dhabi".

There is clearly growing demand for services between the UAE and Ethiopia.

In January 2025, Dubai-based Emirates introduced a daily service to Addis Ababa, while Air Arabia, the region’s largest low-cost carrier, launched flights between Sharjah and Addis Ababa three times a week.

This is the 15th new destination announced already this year by Etihad for 2025. Other destinations include Warsaw and Prague (June), Al Alamein (July), Taipei (September), Medan, Phnom Penh and Krabi (October), and Tunis, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Algiers (November).

Etihad Airways posted record profits for 2024 of US$476 million as passenger numbers rose 32% to reach 18.5 million.

Ethiopian Airlines already flies to Dubai in the UAE and carries cargo to Sharjah. Abu Dhabi will become the airline’s 145th destination. The new route will be operated using the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

For more information, visit www.etihad.com

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