Australian travellers could have a new way to fly to northern Africa and beyond, via a surprise source. Africa’s largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines is eyeing its first-ever flights between Ethiopian capital city, Addis Ababa, and an Australian port.
Although nothing has been confirmed yet, the airline’s Singapore-based Asia-Pacific Regional Manager Telila Deressa Gutema said that the carrier is “is gearing up to make history by launching its very first flight to Australia”.
“In my role as Regional Manager for Ethiopian Airlines, responsible for Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, I have been driving forward our strategic goal of expanding our services to Australia. The groundwork has been laid, and the stage is set for this significant milestone,” he wrote in a recent post on LinkedIn.
“At Ethiopian Airlines, we embody resilience and unwavering commitment. Just like our ethos, I ensure that every endeavor I undertake is seen through to completion. Australia is no exception.
“This route isn’t just about connecting two destinations; it signifies a bold statement. Ethiopian Airlines will bridge Africa and Australia seamlessly, proudly, and with the utmost dedication.”
In May in Singapore, Mr Gutema confirmed that the carrier had “a highly productive and forward-looking meeting with the Sydney Airport team to explore the prospects of Ethiopian Airlines launching flights to Australia”.
Following this meeting, during his most recent visit to Australia, Gutema revealed he met with Melbourne Airport executives.
“We’re truly proud to see how much appreciation Ethiopian Airlines is already receiving in the Melbourne market, even before our official launch,” he stated on LinkedIn.
“It’s no longer a question of if, but when. Ethiopian Airlines is definitely destined to serve both Sydney and Melbourne. But the question is, ‘Who comes first?’ That’s the mystery yet to unfold, very soon.”
What could the flights look like?
With its current fleet, ET could theoretically operate a nonstop service to Australia’s east coast. However, it may find flying through its largest Asian base, Singapore, more commercially viable, due to current deployment and aircraft limitations – similar to Turkish Airlines’ recent launch in Australia, which operates via Kuala Lumpur.
Gutema confirmed the carrier’s current predicament in his most recent post regarding the topic, saying “the missing piece of the puzzle” is the aircraft.
Ethiopian currently has over 100 planes on order, including numerous ultra-long-haul B777s and B787s, which could fly nonstop to Sydney or Melbourne. However, supply chain issues have delayed delivery of aircraft, as they have done for countless other airlines in recent years, so a one-stop option looks the most feasible for the African carrier.
Also, with load factors between Singapore and Australia historically high, operating under fifth freedom rights (when an airline flies between two foreign countries, with the flight either originating or terminating in the operator’s home country) could mitigate any commercial risk for the carrier in launching a new route to the only continent it doesn’t currently doesn’t fly to.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Ethiopian Airlines also operates nonstop flights to Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea, among other APAC ports.
With a combined passenger and cargo fleet of more than 150 aircraft, ET is the largest carrier in Africa.
At the 2025 World Airline Awards, the Addis Ababa-based operation picked up awards for Best Airline in Africa, Best Economy Class in Africa and Best Business Class in Africa.
ET-EY tie-up
In other news, Ethiopian Airlines recently signed a new codeshare agreement with Etihad, strengthening links between Africa and Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, with seats available to book now.
Ethiopian commences flying to Abu Dhabi on 15 July, while Etihad will start Addis Ababa services in October.
“By leveraging our combined networks, we are unlocking seamless travel opportunities between Africa and Asia, Australia and the Middle East,” Etihad Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De said.
Ethiopia is known for its lush landscapes (yes, the country is not just a desert), its diverse wildlife and warm people.
For more info on Ethiopian Airlines, visit www.ethiopianairlines.com.
