Summary
- Ethiopian Airlines has passenger flights to a record 19 European destinations this winter.
- The airline offers a complex network of non-stop and one-stop flights, often with fifth freedom traffic rights.
- Gatwick returns after 17 years and will be served non-stop in both directions.
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest airline in various ways. Its European network from its fast-growing Addis Ababa hub includes Copenhagen, which started in May this year, and London Gatwick, which returns in November. It will be one of many carriers to have added the UK airport since 2022. They join Zurich, which launched last year.
Ethiopian: 19 destinations in Europe
While the Star Alliance passenger carrier’s network is extensive, it is complex as numerous one-stops exist, although not all have fifth freedom traffic rights. I have stated (yes) or (no) below for whether they do or not. Dublin is omitted as it is only served on a tech stop basis to North America, although flights will soon operate via Rome again.
- Athens: four weekly (737 MAX 8)
- Brussels: daily (787-9, 777-200LR); four-weekly non-stop, three via Vienna (no)
- Copenhagen: four weekly (787-8, 787-9); via Vienna (yes)
- Frankfurt: daily (A350-900)
- Geneva: five weekly (A350-900); continues to Manchester (yes)
- Istanbul Airport: daily (737 MAX 8, 787-8)
- London Gatwick: three weekly (A350-900)
- London Heathrow: daily (A350-900)
- Madrid: four weekly (A350-900); via Rome Fiumicino (no)
- Manchester: five weekly (A350-900); via Geneva (yes)
- Marseille: three weekly (A350-900); via Rome Fiumicino (no)
- Milan Malpensa: daily (A350-900, 777-200LR); four weekly continue to Zurich (yes)
- Moscow Domodedovo: four to five weekly (787-8)
- Oslo: daily (787-9); via Stockholm (yes)
- Paris CDG: daily (A350-900)
- Rome Fiumicino daily (A350-900); four weekly continue to Madrid (no), three to Marseille (no)
- Stockholm Arlanda: daily (787-9); continues to Oslo (yes)
- Vienna: daily (777-200LR, 787-8, 787-9); four weekly to Copenhagen (yes), three weekly to Brussels (no)
- Zurich: four weekly (A350-900); via Milan (yes)
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
Gatwick takes off soon
The 3,651-mile (5,876 km) route from Addis Ababa resumes on November 21st after a long, 17-year absence. Then, it used the Boeing 757-200. Now, it will be three-weekly non-stop in both directions using the A350-900.
While presumably due to an inability to acquire more Heathrow slots at the required time, it is a significant development. It will now serve three UK airports and have a joint record of 15 weekly flights to the country. I am delighted to join the airline on its inaugural departure from Gatwick to sub-Saharan Africa, and I’m looking forward to it.
Photo: Flypix | Shutterstock
Gatwick’s schedule provides more choice to passengers. The service leaves Addis Ababa at 00:15 and supplements the typical 01:35 departure to Heathrow. It gives passengers connecting from vast numbers of African cities more choice while providing more London capacity at the absolute peak of the day.
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The return is different. While the vast majority of European flights return in the early morning (06:00-07:00+), Gatwick gets back at 20:40. This connects to far fewer places but includes a growing range of important markets from London, such as Entebbe, Harare, Johannesburg, Kigali, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Nairobi, and Seychelles. This means London passengers can leave in the morning or evening.
Where else would you like Ethiopian to fly in Europe? Let us know in the comments.
Sources of information: Cirium, OAG, Google Flights
