337
Routes
6
Hubs
ETH
ICAO
ET
IATA
TravelerPulse profile
Africa's largest and most profitable airline network.
Founded
1945
Headquarters
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Alliance
Star Alliance
Ethiopian Airlines is the flag carrier of Ethiopia and the largest airline in Africa by several measures, including passengers carried, revenue, and fleet size. Founded in 1945 with assistance from Trans World Airlines, it has grown from a small domestic operation into a global carrier connecting more than 125 international destinations across five continents.
The airline is majority state-owned and headquartered at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, which serves as its primary hub. Ethiopian has built a reputation for operational efficiency and financial sustainability, remaining profitable through periods when many African carriers have struggled.
Ethiopian Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance and operates an aviation academy, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center, and a cargo division, making it a comprehensive aviation group rather than simply a passenger carrier.
Hubs & network
Ethiopian Airlines operates its primary hub at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), serving as a major connecting hub between Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Fleet
Ethiopian Airlines operates a modern fleet including Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Boeing 777s, Boeing 737s, and Airbus A350s, making it one of the most technologically advanced fleets in Africa.
Notable facts
- ›Ethiopian Airlines was founded on December 21, 1945, with initial assistance from Trans World Airlines (TWA).
- ›It is the largest airline in Africa by fleet size, revenue, profit, and number of destinations served.
- ›The airline operates an aviation academy that trains pilots, cabin crew, and technicians for carriers across Africa.
- ›Ethiopian was among the launch customers for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the African continent.
- ›Ethiopian Airlines has equity stakes in several other African airlines as part of its pan-African expansion strategy.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
Featured article · TravelerPulse Library
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's largest and most profitable airline, operating a modern wide-body fleet from its Addis Ababa hub to more than 130 destinations across five continents.
Read the full profilePrimary hubs
Route network map (335 legs)
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
Route network
ABJ → CKYDH8
ABJ → COO73W 752
ABJ → LFWDH8
ABJ → LOSDH8
ABJ → OUA752
ABV → ADD77L
ABV → COODH8
ABV → LFWDH8
ABV → NDJDH8
ABV → NIMDH8
ACC → ADD738
ACC → FNADH8
ACC → LFWDH8
ACC → MLWDH8
ADD → ABV77L
ADD → ACC738
ADD → AMHDH8
ADD → ASODH8
ADD → AXUDH8
ADD → BEY738
ADD → BJRDH8
ADD → BKK763
ADD → BKO763
ADD → BOM788
ADD → CAI73W 738
ADD → CAN77W
ADD → CDG763
ADD → COO73W 752
ADD → DAR738 73W
ADD → DEL752
ADD → DIRDH8 73W
ADD → DLA763
ADD → DMM73W
ADD → DXB77L 738 788 763
ADD → EBB763 73W
ADD → ENU752
ADD → FBM738 73W
ADD → FCO763
ADD → FIH788
ADD → FRA788
ADD → GDQDH8
ADD → GMBDH8
ADD → HGADH8
ADD → HKG788
ADD → HRE788
ADD → JED738 752
ADD → JIBDH8 73W
ADD → JIJDH8
ADD → JIMDH8
ADD → JNB77L
ADD → JRO763
ADD → JUBDH8 73W
ADD → KGL738
ADD → KRTDH8 738
ADD → KWI738
ADD → LAD77W
ADD → LBV738
ADD → LFW788 73W
ADD → LHR788 77L
ADD → LLW738
ADD → LOS77L
ADD → LUN788
ADD → MBA738 DH8
ADD → MCT73W
ADD → MPM73W 738
ADD → MQX738 DH8 73W
ADD → NBO763 738
ADD → NDJ738 752 763
ADD → NIM752
ADD → OUA752
ADD → PEK77L
ADD → PNR738
ADD → PVG788 77L
ADD → RUH738
ADD → SSG763
ADD → SZEDH8
ADD → TLV763
ADL → SIN333
AKL → SIN77W
AMH → ADDDH8
Fleet (aircraft types operated)
Encyclopaedia
Ethiopian Airlines, formerly Ethiopian Air Lines (EAL), is the flag carrier of Ethiopia, and is wholly owned by the country's government. EAL was founded on 21 December 1945 and commenced operations on 8 April 1946, expanding to international flights in 1951. The firm became a share company in 1965 and changed its name from Ethiopian Air Lines to Ethiopian Airlines.
Read full article on WikipediaLatest news
Reuters· 9/30/2026
Ethiopian Airlines agrees to buy 10 Boeing cargo planes, has option for 8 more
Read at Reuters
travelmole.com· 10/1/2026
Ethiopian Airlines restores daily Durban service
Read at travelmole.com
Aerospace Global News· 10/1/2026
Ethiopian Airlines orders 10 Boeing Freighters
Read at Aerospace Global News
MiGFlug· 10/1/2026
Ethiopian Airlines Orders Ten Boeing Freighters, Eight of Them 777-8Fs
Read at MiGFlug
FreightWaves· 9/30/2026
Ethiopian Airlines to buy 10 777 freighters from Boeing
Read at FreightWaves
PR Newswire· 9/30/2026
Ethiopian Airlines Orders Boeing 777 and 777-8 Freighters to Expand Cargo Fleet
Read at PR Newswire
About on Wikipedia
Ethiopian Airlines
State-owned airline of Ethiopia
Ethiopian Airlines, formerly Ethiopian Air Lines (EAL), is the flag carrier of Ethiopia, and is wholly owned by the country's government. EAL was founded on 21 December 1945 and commenced operations on 8 April 1946, expanding to international flights in 1951. The firm became a share company in 1965…
Read on WikipediaText from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA. May be out of date — verify important details.
