Ethiopian Airlines, largest carrier operating to Nigeria with 34 frequencies

• Begins second frequency to Abuja

Africa’s biggest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, yesterday marked yet another milestone with the start of a second frequency to Abuja.

This development symbolises the carrier’s continued commitment to strengthening the deep-rooted ties between Ethiopia and Nigeria and supporting Nigeria’s position as a leading aviation and economic hub in Africa.

Starting from October 28, 2025, Ethiopian Airlines will operate three additional weekly evening flights from Abuja, in addition to our existing daily midday flight.

The new service, ET 957, will depart Abuja at 10:00 PM and arrive in Addis Ababa at 5:00 AM, providing faster and more convenient connections to key African and Asian destinations, including Dubai, Tel Aviv, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Nairobi, and beyond.

With this development, Ethiopian Airlines now operates 34 weekly flights between Nigeria and Ethiopia, connecting Lagos twice daily (14 weekly flights), Abuja ten weekly flights (Seven midday and three evening), Enugu three weekly flights and Kano seven weekly flights.

Area Manager Ethiopian Airlines Nigeria, Firiehewot Mekonnen, said the new service is truly historic, stressing that sixty-five years ago, in 1960, Ethiopian Airlines proudly became one of the first international carriers to fly to Nigeria, starting operations to Lagos shortly after Nigeria’s independence.

She said, ” Since then, we have grown alongside this great nation, expanding our network to Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Kano, serving millions of Nigerian passengers with pride, safety, and excellence”.

“Our partnership with Nigeria has always been symbiotic, built on mutual respect, shared vision, and trust. We love Nigeria, and Nigerians have always loved Ethiopian Airlines. Together, we have connected Nigeria to over 150 global destinations through our Addis Ababa hub, using one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world, including the Airbus A350-1000 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.”
“Abuja is rapidly transforming into a global centre for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). With this new frequency, we aim to make Abuja a preferred gateway for global business, tourism, and diplomacy, truly positioning it as the Conference Capital of Africa.”

Mekonnen was nostalgic about the new addition to the airline’s network, explaining that her professional journey with Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria began in Abuja many years ago, noting that returning to welcome a new flight into Abuja was both nostalgic and fulfilling, a reflection of growth, progress, and enduring partnership.

She said, “This brings our total to over 34 weekly frequencies to and from Nigeria, making Ethiopian Airlines the largest international carrier operating into Nigeria today. Our continued growth in Nigeria reflects not only our commercial success but also our unwavering belief in the Nigerian market, its people, and its future. We remain committed to providing world-class service, supporting tourism and trade, and contributing to Nigeria’s aviation development for decades to come.”

“As we celebrate this milestone today, we express our heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Nigeria, specifically to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, all stakeholders, our travel partners, and above all, our loyal customers who have made this journey possible. Together, let us continue to elevate the partnership between Ethiopian Airlines and Nigeria to even greater heights.”

Wole Shadare