Ethiopian Announces New Addis Ababa- Dublin-L.A. Service

Ethiopian Airlines is to launch a new route from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles with a stopover in Dublin from next summer.

The decision means that Dublin Airport will gain two new year-round direct routes, as the Ethiopian carrier will be selling both the Dublin-LA segment and the Dublin-Addis Ababa segment separately.

Ethiopian will fly three return flights per week from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles via Dublin using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The new route will commence on June 15.

The aircraft will have a two-hour stopover in Dublin. Ireland has granted Ethiopian what are termed fifth freedom rights, which enable the airline to sell tickets on all sectors of the new Addis Ababa to Los Angeles route.

The Dublin-Addis flight will connect with Ethiopian’s extensive African network. Connections from its Addis Ababa hub include Johannesburg, Khartoum, Lagos, Nairobi, and Zanzibar. The new Dublin flight will be timed to offer the best range of possible onward connections in Africa.

daa Chief Executive Kevin Toland, said the new routes would enhance Dublin Airport’s position as a growing hub for transatlantic flights.

“We are delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines to Ireland. This new service will reconnect Dublin with Los Angeles and also brings unrivalled connectivity into Africa, as Ethiopian has the largest number of African destinations of any airline.”

Los Angeles will be Dublin’s fourteenth direct destination in North America. Added Kevin Toland: “Dublin Airport has significantly expanded its transatlantic network over the past three years and this new service will add a second west coast destination alongside the existing Dublin-San Francisco route.

“he United States is a key trading partner for Ireland and this new direct service will bring additional US business and leisure visitors to Ireland.”

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe said he was delighted to welcome these new services to Dublin Airport.

“The new routes to Los Angeles and Addis Ababa will strengthen Ireland’s connectivity to the west coast of the United States and to Africa, offering additional choice and convenience for passengers.

“California is a major market for Irish tourism and this new service to Los Angeles will help Ireland continue to grow visitor numbers from the United States over the medium term.”

Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Tewolde Gebremariam said the new service “would play a critical role in the expansion of trade, tourism, and investment between the fast-growing continent of Africa, the United States and Ireland”.

He added that, by linking Africa to Ireland and LA, the new service would “facilitate mobility and connectivity for businesses and the large African diaspora community living on the West Coast of the United States.”