Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, is adding a fifth US destination: Atlanta.
The airline will offer flights from Atlanta to Addis Ababa – the capital of Ethiopia and its main hub. Service began May 16, with Ethiopian offering flights four times a week between cities.
Westbound flights from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) will stop in Dublin for 50 minutes to refuel. The high altitude of Addis Ababa airport – combined with headwinds commonly seen on westbound flights across the Atlantic – limited the aircraft’s range in that direction, forcing a technical stop.
However, eastbound flights from Atlanta to Addis Ababa operate non-stop. Ethiopian Airlines is the only airline that flies non-stop from the world’s busiest airport to the Ethiopian capital.
The new route also gives ATL a popular Star Alliance option at an airport dominated by Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam members.
Ethiopian Airlines has flown to New York, Newark, Chicago and Washington.
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Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew said the new route would further strengthen ties between the US and Africa.
“We have been connecting the United States and Africa for 25 years now, and the new route will help boost investment, tourism, diplomatic and socioeconomic relations between the two regions,” Tasew said in a statement. Details of the new route.
Already the continent’s largest airline in terms of both revenue and fleet size, Ethiopian is also one of the fastest growing airlines in Africa. It service more than 145 domestic and international destinations from its hub in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian will operate flights to Atlanta on 315-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, including 30 flatbed seats in business class arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration.
Here is the Ethiopian flight schedule between Addis Ababa and Atlanta:
- Ethiopian Airlines Flight 518: Departs from ADD at 10 p.m. and arrives in Atlanta at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. (The plane stopped in Dublin for refueling, scheduled to arrive at 4:20am and depart at 5:10am).
- Ethiopian Airlines Flight 519: Departs from ATL at 10:35am and arrives at ADD at 7:50am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Editor’s Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the author alone, not those of any bank, credit card company, airline or customer chain. hotels and has not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of these organizations.
