Africa’s largest airline looks to serve more Vietnamese passengers

The airline aims to increase flight frequency and provide greater flexibility and choice for passengers traveling between Vietnam and Africa, Leulseged Desalegn, Ethiopian Airlines’ country manager in Vietnam, shared the airline’s plans to strengthen its presence in the country at a meeting with travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

The carrier launched its Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)-Hanoi route in July and currently operates four weekly passenger flights using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

In addition, Ethiopian Airlines runs a weekly cargo service between the two cities.

Desalegn said that the direct route, the first of its kind linking Vietnam and Africa, offers multiple opportunities for trade, tourism, and labor cooperation between Vietnam and many countries.

“Vietnam is one of the newest destinations in our global network.

“Our operations are not just about flights, but also a gateway to new opportunities and stronger connections between Vietnam and our vast network spanning Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East,” he said.

Like many destinations, Ethiopia experiences distinct high and low travel seasons, each with corresponding fare structures.

The new direct route significantly reduces travel time for Vietnamese passengers as they will not have to take transit flights through regional hubs like Bangkok, Singapore, or Dubai.

Founded in 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has grown into a global aviation powerhouse, operating a fleet of more than 160 aircraft with an average age of seven years.

The airline serves over 145 international and 22 domestic destinations and has consistently been named ‘Best Airline in Africa’ by Skytrax.