Summary

  • Ethiopian Airlines’ top routes are domestic and regional, with frequent flights on high-capacity short journeys.
  • International hubs like Dubai and O. R. Tambo are crucial for the airline, offering strategic connections.
  • Routes to Mumbai and Delhi in India serve a niche market for health tourism, providing high-seat capacity.

Ethiopian Airlines is the country’s flag carrier and has operated since 1946. The airline is integral to the Ethiopian economy, transporting passengers throughout Africa and to international destinations.

Ethiopian Airlines currently flies to more than 150 passenger destinations, 22 of which are domestic. It is a member of the Star Alliance and has codeshare agreements with 31 other airlines, which allows its passengers to fly to destinations not served by the airline.

Of the many routes it operates, only flights to 10 destinations break the 15,000 monthly seat mark, many of which are regional flights. These ten destinations generate over 3,659 flights, 424,320 seats, and 415 million available seat miles (ASM).

Here’s an analysis of the highest-capacity routes that Ethiopian Airlines has to offer. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, provides the data for June 2024.

1

Bahir Dar Airport (BJR)

The airport serves the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

The flights from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar Airport and back are the highest capacity flights on Ethiopian Airlines’ roster. The 204-mile flight is operated using the Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.

The airline flies the route 450 times from ADD to BJR and 449 times on the return trip. The Q400 allows for 78 seats, which allows the airline to offer 70,122 seats and 14,3 million ASMs on the flights to and from BJR.

Ethiopian Airlines DHC-8-Q400

Photo: De Havilland Canada

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Addis Ababa (ADD) Bahir Dar Airport (BJR) 204 450 35,100 78 7,160,400
Bahir Dar Airport (BJR) Addis Ababa (ADD) 204 449 35,022 78 7,144,488
Total 408 899 70,122 78 14,304,888

2

Dubai International Airport (DXB)

The Middle Eastern destination is a gateway to many other countries.

The highest-capacity international flight on the Ethiopian Airlines roster is to Dubai International Airport. For June, the route provided the airline with 67,276 seats and 105 million ASMs.

The destination is popular because it is Ethopia’s gateway to many other destinations, especially for codesharing and connecting flights.

Ethiopian Airlines 787-8 taking off

Photo: Suparat Chairatprasert | Shutterstock

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Dubai International Airport (DXB) Addis Ababa (ADD) 1,562 90 33,677 374.2 52,603,474
Addis Ababa (ADD) Dubai International Airport (DXB) 1,562 90 33,599 373.3 52,481,638
Total 3,124 180 67,276 373.7 105,085,112

3

Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX)

MQX serves the Tigray Region of Ethiopia.

Third on the list is another regional route, from Addis Ababa to Mekelle, the Tigray Region’s capital city, in Northern Ethiopia. The airline operates the Q400 for this route, which is only 313 miles long. It operates 300 flights each way, averaging 10 per day.

The route offers the airline 47,420 seats and 14.84 million ASMs.

Ethiopian Airlines Dash 8 Q-400

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX) Addis Ababa (ADD) 313 300 23,710 79 7,421,230
Addis Ababa (ADD) Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX) 313 300 23,710 79 7,421,230
Total 626 600 47,420 79 14,842,460

4

O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)

South Africa is a massive hub for tourism and commerce within Africa, so it’s not surprising that Ethiopian Airlines operates multiple flights there. The airline uses the Boeing 737NG and MAX as well as the Airbus A350-900 for this route.

It operates three daily flights with an average of 241.6 seats per departure, which allows it to provide passengers with 43,486 seats and 109 million ASMs for June.

Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 in Toronto

Photo: Peter Bueno | Shutterstock

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Addis Ababa (ADD) O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) 2,516 90 21,842 242.7 54,954,472
O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) Addis Ababa (ADD) 2,516 90 21,644 240.5 54,456,304
Total 5,032 180 43,486 241.6 109,410,776

5

Dire Dawa International Airport (DIR)

Another important regional route for the Ethiopian people.

Ethiopia has a massive landmass and is the most populated landlocked country. As a result, air travel has become a preferred method of transportation for those who travel long distances.

Dire Dawa is located in eastern Ethiopia. The airline offers 540 monthly flights, averaging 18 daily. This route has 42,120 seats and 8.97 million ASMs.

Ethiopian Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 Q-400

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Dire Dawa International Airport (DIR) Addis Ababa (ADD) 213 270 21,060 78 4,485,780
Addis Ababa (ADD) Dire Dawa International Airport (DIR) 213 270 21,060 78 4,485,780
Total 426 540 42,120 78 8,971,560

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Which is the longest route in the carrier’s extensive network, 7,702 miles long?

6

Gondar Airport (GDQ)

GDQ is the main airport serving northern Ethiopia, so it gets a lot of traffic to and from ADD. The airline uses the Q400 on the route and operates eight daily return flights.

The airport is just 260 miles away from ADD. However, the route produces 9.77 million ASMs because the airline operates 480 flights back and forth, with 78 seats per flight, which amounts to 37,604 seats.

Ethiopian Airlines DHC-8-Q400

Photo: De Havilland Canada
 

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Gondar Airport (GDQ) Addis Ababa (ADD) 260 240 18,802 78.3 4,888,520
Addis Ababa (ADD) Gondar Airport (GDQ) 260 240 18,802 78.3 4,888,520
Total 520 480 37,604 78.3 9,777,040

7

Gerad Wilwal Airport (JIJ)

Regional gateway to the Somali region.

JIJ is the main airport for the Somali region in eastern Ethiopia. It is the last regional flight on the list. Ethiopian Airlines also operates the Q400 on this route, as the airport is only 274 miles from ADD.

In June, the route offered 37,592 seats and 10.3 million ASMs. The airline operates 240 flights in each direction along the route, averaging eight flights daily.

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777

Photo: Croatorum | Shutterstock

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Gerad Wilwal Airport (JIJ) Addis Ababa (ADD) 274 240 18,796 78.3 5,150,104
Addis Ababa (ADD) Gerad Wilwal Airport (JIJ) 274 240 18,796 78.3 5,150,104
Total 548 480 37,592 78.3 10,300,208

8

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)

India is a surprising addition to the list. However, Ethiopia is a popular tourist destination for Indians; more than 13 million visit the country yearly. On the other hand, India is a hub for health tourism for Ethiopians.

As a result, the route to Mumbai, one of India’s most populated cities, is a top earner for Ethiopian Airlines. The airline operates the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner twice daily on the 2,384-mile route, which gives it a seating capacity of 270 per departure. For June, it amounts to a combined 32,400 seats and 77.2 million ASMs.

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Photo: eka.viation | Shutterstock

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) Addis Ababa (ADD) 2,384 60 16,200 270 38,620,800
Addis Ababa (ADD) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) 2,384 60 16,200 270 38,620,800
Total 4,768 120 32,400 540 77,241,600

Related

History: 5 Milestones From The Life & Times Of Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines has achieved many African firsts throughout its history.

9

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)

The neighboring countries have a long history of cooperation.

Ethiopia and its neighbor Kenya have frequent travel between them, including tourism and business travel. NBO serves as the main hub airport for Kenya’s capital, from which passengers can travel to other areas.

As a result, it is one of the most important intercontinental routes for Ethiopian Airlines. The relatively short 260-mile flight uses the 777-300ER and 737 MAX 8. The airline operates twice-daily flights, once per day, with each type. It offers an average of 260 seats per departure, 31,200 seats, and 22.4 million ASMs along the route, back and forth.

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-200LR

Photo: Boeing

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) Addis Ababa (ADD) 719 60 15,600 260 11,216,400
Addis Ababa (ADD) Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) 719 60 15,600 260 11,216,400
Total 1,438 120 31,200 520 22,432,800

10

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

The last entry on the list, Delhi, is the only destination without 15,000 seats on the return flight. It is another popular destination for health tourism for the Ethiopian people.

Ethiopian Airlines operates the Boeing 737 MAX 8 twice daily on this 2,829-mile flight, which provides the airline with 15,100 seats and 42.7 million ASMs.

Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8

Departure Destination Miles Flights Seats Seats/Dep ASM
Addis Ababa (ADD) Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) 2,829 60 15,100 251.7 42,717,900

  • Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8

    Ethiopian Airlines

    IATA/ICAO Code:
    ET/ETH

    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier

    Hub(s):
    Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

    Year Founded:
    1945

    Alliance:
    Star Alliance

    CEO:
    Mesfin Tasew Bekele

    Country:
    Ethiopia

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