Ethiopian Airlines is considering launching flights to Australia.
The Star Alliance member airline has confirmed its arrival in the oceanic nation and plans to serve three of its major destinations by 2028.
These destinations are Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, which will be connected from Addis Ababa Bole with three flights per week.
The new routes will be operated with A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, two wide-body jets that will join the Ethiopian Airlines fleet within the next few months.
The launch of these three long-haul flights represents an opportunity for Ethiopian Airlines to establish a foothold in a strong market, demonstrating its significant commitment to continued internationalization and opening up new long-haul destinations for African travelers.
“There are markets where we believe the Ethiopian Airlines brand is important,” said Mesfin Tasew Bekele, CEO of Africa’s largest airline, at a press conference in Addis Ababa.
A major first for African aviation
The launch of these three routes represents a historic event for the Ethiopian and African carrier, as until now, there have been no direct flights connecting Africa to Oceania.
“This new route is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ ambitious plan to add ultra-long-haul flights to its schedule,” Mr. Tasew emphasized.
“The launch of flights to the three Australian destinations also provides connections to sixty destinations across Africa from our mega hub in Addis Ababa,” he added.