Monday, July 14, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and one of the fastest growing Airline in the world, is pleased to announce that it has started services to Hanoi, Vietnam, with a stop in Hong Kong. The new service commenced on July 10, 2025 and is available 4x-weekly, providing a new option for passengers traveling between Africa and Southeast Asia. The new service marks a milestone for Ethiopian Airlines as it is the first of its kind to link Vietnamese and African destinations, and is further evidence of the carrier’s reach expanding further south east in the region.

The Addis Ababa–Hanoi route will be operated using Ethiopian Airlines’ modern fleet, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and features a one-stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This configuration is designed to offer passengers an efficient travel option with increased access between Africa and Southeast Asia. The flight schedule for this service has been carefully tailored to ensure ease of travel for both business and leisure travelers.

The flight schedule is as follows:

These timings provide a convenient option for passengers traveling between Addis Ababa, Hanoi, and Dhaka, and further enhance connectivity for those seeking to explore Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia. The service will allow passengers more access to key economic and cultural hubs across both regions.

The inaugural flight launch was celebrated with a grand ceremony at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, attended by Ethiopian government officials, diplomatic representatives, and Ethiopian Airlines’ executives, including Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. Mr. Tasew expressed his excitement about the new route, stating that it would significantly enhance the airline’s global reach while facilitating stronger relations between Africa and Southeast Asia.

During his speech, Mr. Tasew said, “We are truly delighted to start passenger services to Hanoi, a city of great cultural and economic significance. This new route not only supports our vision of connecting Africa to the world but also serves as a bridge for enhanced cooperation between Africa and Southeast Asia. With our modern fleet, award-winning service, and vast global network, we are confident that this route will facilitate growing tourism, business, and people-to-people ties between Vietnam and the African continent.”

This launch underscores Ethiopian Airlines’ continuous efforts to expand its presence in Asia, which now includes 28 passenger and cargo destinations. With over 190 weekly frequencies across the continent, Ethiopian Airlines is rapidly becoming one of the most connected African airlines operating in Asia.

By operating a route to Hanoi, Ethiopian Airlines is not only increasing its presence in Vietnam but also in the greater Southeast Asian market. This development will allow travelers to more easily connect between Vietnam, Africa, and the broader Southeast Asian region, promoting trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

Ethiopian Airlines’ new service to Hanoi is expected to drive significant economic and cultural exchanges between Africa and Vietnam. The route will provide new avenues for Vietnamese businesses to access African markets, while simultaneously offering African companies greater access to Vietnam’s growing economy.

Additionally, this route supports the growing tourism sector in both regions. Vietnamese tourists will now have more opportunities to visit Ethiopia and explore the rich history and culture of Africa, while Ethiopian travelers will be able to discover the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Vietnam. Both regions stand to benefit from increased people-to-people exchanges, which will contribute to a better mutual understanding and cooperation.

Ethiopian Airlines launches new route linking Addis Ababa and Vietnam’s Hanoi The Addis Ababa-Hanoi connection opens new horizons to bolster the burgeoning and booming economic ties between Africa and Vietnam. The service not just improves connectivity between Africa and Southeast Asia but also serves as an instrument in improving bilateral relationship of Indo-ASEAN friendship. It isn’t out of the realm of impossibility either, considering Ethiopian is one of the biggest and fastest growing airlines in Africa, which should make it a force to be reckoned with in the Southeast Asian market.

The launch of the new Addis Ababa–Hanoi route is in line with Ethiopian Dreamliner network expansion and the airline is also working to increase frequency between Addis Ababa and Hanoi. This new flight path will also continue to deliver on the carrier’s mission for Africa to connect to the world – acting as a critical bridge for business as well as to boost tourism and enable the exchange of culture between these regions and help bring even more trade, investment and economic development to Africa.