Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has introduced a new daily flight service between Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa. This marks a significant milestone in its ambitious global expansion and officially activates a distinctive joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines (ET).
As part of its plan to introduce 18 new destinations this year, Etihad is significantly expanding its presence in Africa. The Addis Ababa route is the 10th new destination launched in 2025, with eight more expected before the year concludes.
The inaugural flight, which was fully booked, landed at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport on Wednesday. Onboard were Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, and a delegation of senior executives, who were greeted warmly by Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew.
This new service marks the beginning of a groundbreaking commercial partnership between the two airlines, aimed at enhancing connectivity between the Gulf, East Africa, and beyond.
During a welcoming ceremony, both CEOs highlighted the historic significance of their collaboration. Mesfin Tasew described the partnership as “truly unique,” a sentiment echoed by Neves.
“It’s the first joint business agreement between a Middle Eastern carrier and an African carrier—that’s unprecedented,” Neves clarified, emphasizing two additional factors that set the venture apart: the similar size and business philosophies of both airlines, and the strategic importance of their hubs.
“Etihad is the UAE national carrier, and Ethiopian is the Ethiopian national carrier. When we combine these two well-managed, profitable airlines with excellent customer service, it benefits everyone,” Neves told Capital.
The partnership has already resulted in a combined total of two daily flights between the capitals—one operated by each airline.
Looking ahead, Neves expressed his ambition for the route, stating, “I would love to double that, to four flights a day. The sooner we can add more capacity, the sooner we will add it.”
The new service takes advantage of Addis Ababa’s status as a major aviation and diplomatic hub in Africa. As the home of the African Union and the extensive Ethiopian Airlines network, the city serves as a key gateway to over 55 destinations across the continent, providing Etihad passengers with unmatched connectivity deep into Africa.
This launch is a crucial element of Etihad’s broader growth strategy, which aims to introduce a total of 30 new destinations over two years, with 12 more planned to start in 2026. The strong demand, demonstrated by full inaugural flights in both directions, highlights the market’s potential for this enhanced connection.
