Inside Ethiopian Airlines’ Vast African Network

Ethiopian Airlines has inaugurated service to Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. It is the Star Alliance member’s 76th passenger destination (domestic and international) across the vast African continent from its Addis Ababa hub. I look forward to flying through there next week and seeing its ever-growing wave of flights (going here, there, and everywhere) in action.

Welcome back, Bangui!

The CAR capital was previously served by Ethiopian Airlines between 2010 and 2012, when it used the Boeing 737-800, 757-200ER, and 767-300ER. It appears to have ended due to insufficient loads and the knock-on performance impacts of that.

It returned on November 15th, 2023, with flights now operated by the 160-seat two-class 737 MAX 8. Analysis of Ethiopian’s international African network shows that the MAX 8 is its most-used type this northern winter.

While predictably not really covered by the international media, the resumed service runs three weekly on a non-stop terminator basis in both directions. It is scheduled as follows, with all times local:

• Addis Ababa to Bangui: ET959, 10:00-11:40 (3h 40m block)
• Bangui to Addis Ababa: ET958, 13:40-19:00 (3h 20m)

Obviously, it is timed to maximize connections to Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, together with many destinations in Eastern and Southern Africa. Not that the market is big. According to booking data for the first nine months of 2023, only about 48,000 passengers traveled to these places, with more than two-thirds to/from France, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Now serves 76 African destinations

The 76 airports are in 40 countries. The map below summarizes its network, including its one-stop terminator and triangular services, which remain vitally important to so many airlines serving the continent. If only its international African network is considered, it has passenger flights to 59 airports.

Ignoring its domestic operation, which is more standalone, it serves one airport in 26 nations. Breaking down its passenger network this winter shows that it has flights to:

• Two airports in eight countries: Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia
• Three airports in three nations: DRC, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe
• Four airports in two countries: Nigeria and Somalia

Nine passenger destinations cut

Examining Ethiopian’s international African network in the past 20 years shows that it no longer serves Berbera (Somalia), Durban (South Africa), Kisangani (DRC), Kaduna (Nigeria), Malakal (South Sudan), Monrovia (Liberia), Mbuji Mayi (DRC), or Port Harcourt (Nigeria). Port Harcourt was only served due to Enugu’s runway repairs.

Durban, South Africa’s third most populous city, was served between December 2015 and June 2017 using the 737-800 (see photo). The city is interesting as a potential return.

Among other problems is distance. Due to this, OAG shows that flights tended to leave for Durban at 08:30 and arrive back at about 21:40. They were among Ethiopian’s earliest intra-Africa departures and latest arrivals at its Addis hub.

It did not fit nicely with Ethiopian’s well-defined and highly coordinated mains bank of flights connecting it to/from Europe, North America, Asia, and more. That said, a tiny number of existing markets remain scheduled like that.

Where else?

Notice from the map above that Ethiopian only serves Cairo in North Africa. That’s because relevant connecting traffic from other capitals is minimal, likewise places elsewhere, such as the Gambia. I would not expect these to materialize.

Instead, I see more places served in Somalia, the eventual return of Durban, and the launch of obvious Mauritius. However, Mauritius is complicated due to an apparent long-standing disagreement.

Where would you like Ethiopian to fly in Africa? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: Ethiopian’s website, Google Flights, Flightradar24, Cirium, OAG, booking data