Ethiopian Airlines' European network is comprehensive, spanning 15 destinations in February. The B787-9 is the most deployed aircraft, relegating the A350-900 to second. The carrier's Europe operation revolves around one-stops, reflecting insufficient demand but enabling higher frequencies. Day-long layovers on the ground help to drive connectivity across Africa.
15 European destinations
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's largest airline and the leading Sub-Saharan airline to Europe by departing flights. As you'd expect, it falls to fifth if all of Africa is considered, behind Royal Air Maroc, Air Arabia Maroc, Tunisair, and EgyptAir, according to OAG schedules data.
Ethiopian serves 15 destinations across Europe in February. With 296 departures and about one in ten of its total, the continent is a relatively small part of its whole network, although it plays an important role for Africa-wide connectivity.
The 15 destinations exclude Dublin, its leading tech stop en route to the US/Canada, as neither Addis-Dublin nor Dublin-US/Canada is bookable. However, Ethiopian used to serve Dublin in its own right, initially via Madrid (on which it had fifth freedom traffic rights) and then Brussels. There is no sign if or when Dublin (or Madrid) will return.
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It's nearly all about one stops
Only Frankfurt, London Heathrow, and Paris CDG aren't served via another airport. They're 'termination' services and don't go elsewhere. Given the size of the markets and Star Alliance connections over Frankfurt, this shouldn't be surprising. Meanwhile, Brussels is served non-stop (continuing to Manchester) and one-stop (via Vienna).
So many European one-stops mean that many African destinations are available on a two-stop basis. In theory, this would reduce the competitiveness and yields of Ethiopian versus key competitors, such as Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, which are quickly growing their African networks. However, their African operations involve many one-stops, except for the largest of destinations.
A look at Ethiopian's one-stops
Given Ethiopian's one central Africa-wide departure bank, long ground time – also done by Icelandair and others – is essential to ensure maximum connectivity. The cost of not feeding it would be significantly higher than idle aircraft.
The one-stops are detailed below (all times are local), with the timings based on the final destination. For example, ET712 departs Addis Ababa at 23:20 and arrives in Milan (via Rome) at 06:20. After almost 14 hours on the ground, ET713 leaves at 20:10 and arrives home (via Rome) at 07:10 on day three.
- Brussels (via Vienna in both directions): four-weekly by the B787-9; leaving Addis at 01:30, arriving Brussels at 08:30, leaving at 19:25, and arriving back at 06:25+1 on day two
- Manchester (via Brussels in both directions): three-weekly; B787-9; 00:45-07:35, 18:55-07:15+1
- Marseille (via Geneva in both directions): three-weekly; B787-9; 01:15-08:15; 0845-07:35+1
- Milan Malpensa (via Rome in both directions): five-weekly; B787-9 and B777-200LR; 23:20-06:20+1, 20:10-07:10+1
- Moscow DME (via Athens in both directions): three-weekly; B737-800 and MAX 8; 23:00-08:15, 21:30-06:35+1
- Oslo (via Stockholm in both directions): four-weekly; B787-8; 23:40-07:45+1; 1845-06:20+1
Have you flown the airline or visited Addis Ababa? Share your experiences in the comments.