Ethiopian Airlines, wholly owned by the Ethiopian government, stands as the largest airline in Africa. It began operations in 1945, making it Africa’s oldest continuously operating airline. Ethiopian is currently the only African airline with a truly global reach, with flights to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, not to mention numerous places in Africa itself. It is a member of Star Alliance.
Route Network and Destinations
Ethiopian Airlines has a global route network, flying to over 60 African destinations across 40 countries and serving 136 international destinations globally. Ethiopian Airlines presently flies to six cities in North America: Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, New York JFK, Toronto, and Washington Dulles. The Newark flight makes a stop in Lomé, the capital of the West African nation of Togo where the airline has a secondary hub.
Overall Flight Experience
Some airline reviews focus on micro detail. My overall take is that Ethiopian is a fine airline for economy class for long-haul travel.
Crew and Service
On both my Ethiopian flights, I found the flight attendants highly professional and hard working. The cabin crew were friendly and efficient throughout.
Food and Amenities
The food was okay. They were not stingy with wine and beer. They provide amenity kits in economy. The food was fairly average. The main service was exactly the same on both long-haul legs - a choice of chicken curry with rice or beef casserole with mashed potato, along with an unidentifiable pink pudding. Breakfast was disappointing - a choice of “egg” or “pancake,” though neither resembled the description so don’t get too excited when you hear pancake.
Read also: Exploring Ethiopian Flavors
Aircraft Condition
The aircraft interior on the first flight - a B787 - was perhaps a bit on the shabby side, but a B787 is always a fine aircraft on which to fly. The aircraft on the second flight - an A330 - seemed fresher.
Addis Ababa Airport Experience
A foggy morning at the Addis Ababa airport.
The Addis airport itself is quite efficient, at least it was on the days we were there. Arriving, immigration and customs lines were minimal. Check-in and security lines on departure were also short. But the overall airport experience is nothing special. This is not one of those places where you want to plan for some extra time to enjoy all the airport has to offer as you might in, for example, Singapore or Doha. The airport is very close to the city center.
Priority Pass Lounge
Reinforcing the case not to linger unnecessarily in the airport, the Priority Pass lounge at Addis is literally the worst airport lounge I have ever been to. By far. So much so that I downgraded myself to a non-lounge experience. It’s called the Plaza Premium lounge, and is part of an eponymous network that has significantly better spaces in other airports. As for their Addis lounge, stay away unless they upgrade the experience. Bad food, no alcohol (even for purchase), cramped, crowded, no windows to the outside world - there is literally no reason to go there. It is utterly without merit.
If you have an unlimited Priority Pass membership, you might want to look in at the Plaza Premium just to see how bad a lounge could be. But it is certainly not worth paying for or using up one of a limited number of prepaid lounge visits. None of that reflects badly on Ethiopian Airlines itself, of course.
Read also: A Taste of Ethiopia in Ann Arbor
Always love the Ethiopian Food in Addis Ababa Airport at Ethiopian Airlines Business Class Lounge
Travel Tips and Additional Considerations
- Stopover Programs: Keep in mind that Ethiopian Airlines itself has stopover programs, including for people with same-day connections.
- Yellow Fever Vaccination: If you are connecting via Addis Ababa, you will need to show proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination on arrival at your final destination - even if you’ve only transited briefly in Ethiopia.
Summary of Verified Reviews
Here's a summary of verified customer reviews, reflecting both positive and negative experiences:
| Aspect | Comments |
|---|---|
| Cleanliness | Mixed reviews; some found the plane not so clean, while others found the aircraft very new. |
| Crew | Generally nice, friendly, and attending. |
| Food | Satisfactory for some, average for others; water service inconsistent. |
| In-flight Entertainment | Okay, but may lack specific content (e.g., Bollywood songs). Limited compared to larger international carriers, with a small selection of recent releases and world cinema. |
| Check-in | Sometimes slow; priority check-in benefits reduced for silver members. |
| Seating | Old design seats can be uncomfortable; exit seats not always honored. |
| Customer Service | Inconsistent; some report disrespectful staff and issues with damaged luggage. |
| Boarding | Chaotic, with no clear priority line in some cases. |
If you’re looking for a reliable, cost-effective, and quick route to Africa, Ethiopian Airlines is a solid choice.
Read also: Ethiopian Cuisine: Philadelphia Guide
