Ethiopian Airlines plans to launch flights to Australia by 2028, completing its stated goal of establishing a presence on every continent, the airline announced this week.
The expansion hinges on securing at least two wide-body aircraft capable of operating ultra-long-haul routes, according to Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines. Tasew indicated that current delivery delays from aircraft manufacturers pose a significant challenge to the timeline. “We require to secure at least two large aircraft to operate to the continent,” he said, adding that receiving the aircraft will take at least two years.
Currently, Ethiopian Airlines serves 145 cities across five continents, with Australia remaining the only continent without direct service. The move is intended to strengthen connectivity between Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and solidify the airline’s position as a global leader in air travel.
News of the planned expansion was initially reported by Business Insider Africa and has since been shared across social media platforms, including X and Facebook. The potential route is expected to facilitate trade, tourism, investment, and travel for the African diaspora in Australia, according to a Facebook post from Great Africa.
Ethiopian Airlines, widely recognized as Africa’s largest airline, has not yet specified which Australian cities it intends to serve, nor has it announced which aircraft models it is considering for the ultra-long-haul routes. The airline did not respond to requests for further comment.
