Ethiopian Airlines is set to launch passenger flights to Australia—the only continent the airline has not served in its eighty-year service history.
Information reaching APA on Tuesday suggests that senior officials of the airline have held talks with Melbourne Airport authorities on the launch of the service.
The new service will connect Addis Ababa with Melbourne, forging a long-awaited link between Africa and Australia. It is also expected to boost trade, tourism, and investment flows between the two continents.
The airline has been planning flights to Australia for six years, but the challenge of securing suitable aircraft capable of serving such a long journey delayed the project.
Given the route’s long distance, the airline is expected to deploy its long-haul fleet of Airbus A350 or Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, both known for their fuel efficiency and passenger comfort on ultra-long-haul routes
The new route is expected to have stopovers in cities such as Singapore for refueling and operational efficiency.
The addition of Australia will complete Ethiopian Airlines’ truly global network.
By adding Australia to its network, Ethiopian Airlines will complete its vision of connecting Africa to every continent.
This will reinforce its reputation as Africa’s largest and most globally connected carrier.
MG/as/APA