Information on Ethiopian Air Flights

If a Jeopardy clue read, “Africa’s largest airline by the number of passengers, destinations served, and fleet size,” would your response be, “What is Ethiopian Airlines?” While it might surprise many, Ethiopian Airlines, also known as simply Ethiopian, has been a pioneering force in African aviation since the mid-1940s, holding the title of the continent’s largest airline across several key metrics.

Headquartered at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the airline’s extensive network reaches 136 global destinations, including 63 cities throughout Africa (more than any other airline). Its fleet of 134 aircraft features a significant number of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, primarily for its long-haul operations.

Why should you consider Ethiopian Airlines?

As an Africa correspondent for 15+ years, I find Ethiopian Airlines a smart, time-saving option for reaching far-flung destinations across the continent and nearby islands, especially from the United States and Europe. For example, my fastest option to reach locations like Nosy Be in Madagascar or Maun in Botswana is with Ethiopian thanks to regular service via Addis from U.S. metropolises Atlanta, Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York City.

In full disclosure, with more time (read: if I have an entire extra day to spare) my preferred way to reach such destinations is via Johannesburg. However, this requires flying one airline to Johannesburg, typically overnighting in Johannesburg, and then taking a next-day flight on Airlink, a regional African carrier.

Another selling point of Ethiopian is an overall solid hard product and welcoming onboard service, backed by an impressive collection of aviation awards and recognitions, including certification as a Four-Star Airline by Skytrax and a regular recipient as the Best Airline in Africa.

In addition, as part of Star Alliance, the world's largest airline network, Ethiopian Airlines allows passengers to quickly earn and redeem miles. The best part here is that the airline is consistently generous with award availability, even in its premium cabins.

U.S. Routes: Direct but not nonstop

While I appreciate Ethiopian’s flight schedules, which often minimize layover times in Addis Ababa, I’m not a fan of the carrier’s required fuel stop on westbound routes to the United States. It’s true that all U.S. flights are direct, but they aren’t non-stop.

What’s the difference? As the term suggests, a non-stop flight has no stops. In contrast, a direct flight can stop for refueling or to allow passengers to board or disembark along the way. Due to Addis Ababa’s high altitude of 7,700 feet, operational limits on take-off performance and aircraft wear require a fuel stop in Rome, Italy for all North American destinations, except New York City, which has a shorter flight distance than other U.S. cities.

These fuel stops typically occur in the middle of the night – just as deep REM sleep is about to set in. While it’s not a dealbreaker, travelers hoping for uninterrupted rest should be aware of these necessary (if inconvenient) landings and take-offs. On the plus side, flights from the U.S. to Addis, which depart from lower altitudes, don’t require any stops.

Fare classes

Ethiopian Airlines offers two cabin classes: Economy Class and Business Class, also known as Cloud Nine. Economy Class passengers can select from Flex and Semi-Flex fares, each with varying degrees of flexibility. Business Class fares also include different levels of flexibility, with Cloud 9 Restricted being the least flexible and Cloud 9 Deluxe offering more options.

Ethiopian Airlines economy class

In general, the airline's Economy Class seats offer a better-than-average experience with plush padding, a generous 32-inch pitch, and a 17-inch width. All seats, except those on Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, feature personal entertainment monitors.

Economy Class passengers on Ethiopian Airlines can enhance their travel experience by upgrading to seats with extra legroom or preferred locations, such as bulkhead or exit-row seats, for an additional fee.

Ethiopian Airlines business class

Business class products on Ethiopian Airlines vary wildly. Overall, you’ll enjoy your experience on some aircraft and find yourself disappointed with others. Starting at the low end, the airline’s fleet of 737-700 and 737-800 have recliner seats only (which, in all fairness, is an industry standard for these aircraft). Fortunately, these planes are used on shorter flights, including domestic routes and short-haul intra-Africa ones.

When it comes to long-haul flights, prepare to do some extra homework and take note of both the aircraft and configuration. The Boeing 777-300 features an angle lie-flat bed (outdated in my opinion) while there are fully lie-flat beds on the 777-200 and 767-300. The Dreamliner 787 aircrafts are a mixed bag of lie-flats, some flat and some angled.

True luxury awaits on the A350s, freshly minted with modern lie-flat beds and a generous 22-inch width. Unfortunately for me, Ethiopian doesn’t use its A350s for flights to/from the U.S. but does use them for medium-haul destinations across Africa, and longer hauls to the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and even Toronto.

While the benefits of Business Class are consistent across the fleet, it's worth noting the different cabin configurations. The A350 has a 2-2-2 layout, while the 777-200 and 777-300 have a 2-2-2 layout in the first row and a 2-3-2 layout in the following four rows. Both the Dreamliner 787-8 and 767-300 offer a 2-2-2 layout.

Check-in

In theory, Ethiopian Airlines provides convenient check-in options, including online check-in, airport check-in, and self-service kiosks. Business Class travellers enjoy exclusive perks, such as a dedicated check-in lane, increased baggage allowance, fast-track security screening, and lounge access. Also, Ethiopian's participation in TSA PreCheck allows eligible travelers boarding from the US to expedite the security screening process.

However, the check-in experience at Addis Ababa can often be chaotic, so it’s essential to arrive early and pack plenty of patience. There’s also a tendency for passengers to bring excessively large and overweight luggage, so expect to see oversized bags and to wait as travelers are asked to reduce their luggage weight or pay additional fees.

Boarding

Although Ethiopian Airlines utilizes a group boarding system that prioritizes passengers based on cabin selection, seat selection, and boarding perks, I have found the boarding process in Addis to be like one big free-for-all. Again, pack your patience.

Amenities, entertainment and Wi-Fi

Economy Class passengers on long-haul flights to China and America will enjoy the comfort of blankets and pillows, as well as individual IFE monitors with a selection of entertainment options.

Cloud 9 passengers receive a basic amenity kit, underscored by a bright yellow eye mask. The welcome drinks experience is a highlight, with Ethiopian Airlines offering real Champagne, unlike many cost-cutting US and European airlines, poured in elegant glassware.

Another thing to look forward to on medium to long-haul flights is delicious Ethiopian food. On flights from and to the US, EA’s inflight menu showcases a delicious selection of Ethiopian national dishes such as doro wot (Ethiopian spicy chicken stew) and gomen (sautéed kale). Those who aren’t into cultural exploration can also opt for Western meals such as a seared salmon fillet with a creamy dill lemon sauce.

ShebaSkyConnect, Ethiopian Airlines' onboard Wi-Fi service, is available on A350, B777, and most B787 aircraft. Passengers can choose from various Wi-Fi packages, with top elite ShebaMiles members receiving a complimentary one-hour browsing session.

Packages include a one-hour pass, a two-hour pass, or an unlimited pass. However, I’d advise against using the first two options. Since the packages are based on data consumption rather than time, if you have multiple apps running on your device, your “hour” may last just a few minutes. Additionally, the onboard Wi-Fi can be unreliable, even for simple tasks like sending emails.

The shooting star of Star Alliance

Ethiopian Airlines is a core member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. While many Star Alliance carriers can be highly restrictive with award availability or impose high mileage redemption rates, Ethiopian is a refreshing exception.

Your best bet for scoring an award ticket on Ethiopian is by using frequent flyer miles from transfers via major credit card programs like American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Citi. Although Ethiopian’s ShebaMiles program isn’t a direct transfer partner with any major U.S. credit card, you can leverage Star Alliance partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and United MileagePlus, offering excellent opportunities to use credit card points for Ethiopian flights.

However, there’s a big catch. When it comes to Ethiopian award inventory, seeing isn’t always believing. I've lost count of how many times I’ve found Ethiopian award seats through United MileagePlus, only to get an error message during checkout saying the seats are no longer available.

This phenomenon is known as “ghost space” in the mileage world – when award systems don’t properly sync, showing availability that doesn’t actually exist. It’s incredibly frustrating and disheartening when those seats suddenly vanish.

Personally, I’ve had better success finding real award seats on Ethiopian Airlines through Aeroplan and KrisFlyer. While it may seem like extra effort to secure a ticket, it’s well worth it – especially since you can often snag pricey business class seats for a reasonable number of miles and minimal taxes.