Direct air connectivity between Dhaka and the African continent has been inaugurated, with Ethiopian Airlines launching a direct flight between Dhaka and Addis Ababa on Sunday (3 November).
As Africa's leading airline, Ethiopian Airlines will operate this route using Dreamliner aircraft.
A water cannon salute greeted the inaugural flight as it touched down on Bangladeshi soil in the morning, marking the ceremonial start of operations.
The return flight departed from Dhaka to Addis Ababa shortly thereafter.
Scheduled flights along this route will depart Dhaka on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in the morning, with additional flights scheduled on Mondays and Fridays.
At an event held at Dhaka Airport to commemorate the inaugural flight, Air Vice Marshal Md Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan, Chairman of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, welcomed a delegation from Ethiopian Airlines.
The Ethiopian delegation was led by Getachew Mengistu Alemayehu, Director General of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, and Lemma Yadecha, Chief Commercial Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group.
With a fleet of 147 aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines stands as Africa’s largest airline in terms of passengers, destinations, and revenue.
Already a significant player in South Asia, the airline operates flights to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Karachi, with its recent expansion into Dhaka forming part of a broader strategy to strengthen its presence across Asia.
In response to anticipated demand, Ethiopian Airlines has plans to increase the frequency of flights on this route.
Dhaka’s addition to the airline’s vast network will facilitate access to over 63 African destinations and nearly 150 global destinations.
