The report notes that Ethiopian Airlines has introduced non-stop flights from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to London Gatwick, responding to a significant increase in passenger traffic from locations such as Harare, Zimbabwe.
Ethiopian Airlines is gaining ground in capturing market share from its Gulf and regional competitors on routes connecting <a href="https://absafricatv.com/west-african-leaders-sign-pact-for-25bn-nigeria/” title=”West African leaders sign pact for $25bn Nigeria”>African hubs to major centers like London and Dubai. A study conducted by Airbus, titled ‘Exploring the Horizons: A Study of Unserved Air Routes to, from and within Sub-Saharan Africa’, analyzes African air connectivity and route performances over the past three years. The study, published this month, highlights Ethiopian Airlines and its Addis Ababa hub as key drivers of growth across routes connecting African cities to popular destinations.
The report highlights the success of Ethiopian Airlines in launching non-stop flights from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to London Gatwick, which was prompted by a substantial surge in passenger traffic from places like Harare, Zimbabwe. This move has enabled Ethiopian to surpass Emirates as the primary carrier for the high-volume diaspora, leisure, and Visiting Friends and Relatives market. According to Airbus, the airline’s strategy has been successful.
The report also notes a similar success story on routes linking Douala, Cameroon, to Dubai, where Ethiopian Airlines has managed to gain an advantage over Rwandair by capitalizing on geopolitical disruptions. In early 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo closed its airspace to all Rwandan-registered aircraft, forcing Rwandair to take lengthy detours to serve the Douala market, thereby ceding market share to Ethiopian.
Nonetheless, Rwandair and Ethiopian maintain close commercial ties, with Ethiopian providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul services to Rwandair.
The report further notes strong growth in the Harare-Dubai route, where Ethiopian Airlines has managed to capture a significant portion of economy passengers. However, Emirates continues to dominate the premium market.
