Ethiopian Airlines

A start-up carrier backed by a former chairman and chief executive of American Airlines has placed an order for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX8s, representing the largest aircraft deal ever for the African continent.

Fresh from signing a deal with the government of Ghana to create a new national carrier, Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines has outlined plans to launch services to the UK and Germany from the country’s capital Accra, the host city of Routes Africa in 2018.

This week: Ethiopian to connect West Africa with the West Coast of the US; Thai AirAsia to launch new Sri Lanka service; and United to offer special Barcelona flights.

Zambia’s new flag carrier will take to the skies in January after Ethiopian Airlines signed a shareholding agreement with the country’s main development agency.

Passenger numbers have exceeded ten million at Ethiopian Airlines for the first time in its history during a year when the carrier added eight new international destinations to its network.

This week: Royal Air Maroc eyes US expansion; BRICS aviation agreement; Ethiopian Airlines forms new cargo business; financial results from Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, WestJet and Indigo.

South African Airways chief executive Vuyani Jarana and Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam were among the speakers at Routes Africa 2018.

The dominance of non-African airlines in the continent should be challenged, according to Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam.

Key figures from the international aviation industry are gathering in Accra, Ghana for the 11th Routes Africa. The event, which is the continent’s longest-standing aviation forum bringing together leading airlines, airports and tourism authorities, comes at a time when the market is growing rapidly.

This week: Wizz adds Israel destination from Luton; Spirit increases Caribbean services; and Ethiopian to serve Eritrea after two decades.

Ambitious African carrier moves closer to planned Mumbai and Guangzhou routes.

Routesonline reveals the largest African carriers, with the top ten carrying almost 60 million passengers between them last year.

This week: Flydubai and Emirates strengthen ties; Fastjet secures $10m funding lifeline; Ethiopian Airlines receives first 737 MAX and more.

Delegates from across Africa and further afield are registering their attendance for Routes Africa 2018.

This week: Primera Air's transatlantic cancellations; Al Baker takes over as IATA board chairman; JetGo ceases flights; Emirates' A380 Osaka plans and more.

This week: Lufthansa firms up A320neo options; AirAsia X increases Hawaii focus; the Single African Air Transport Market; Air Baltic to buy up to 60 CS300s and more.

Our top five stories on Routes Weekly: WOW's Indian expansion; China to relax international regulations; strong half for easyJet; UAE and US deal; Ethiopian adds Manchester and more.

This week: Air China to start Chengdu-London route, Wizz Air continues its Debrecen expansion and Ethiopian adds a second UK destination.

Ethiopian Airlines is to operate a four-times-a-week service from Addis Ababa to Manchester Airport at a time when capacity between the UK and Africa is increasing.

Tewolde GebreMariam is the latest industry heavyweight to join the line-up for the Routes Africa 2018 Conference Programme.

Ethiopian Airlines has concluded a firm order for ten new Bombardier turboprops at the same time as launching three new routes.

Michael Yohannes from Ethiopian Airlines explains more about the carrier's strategy from the UK to help achieve its long-term ambitions.

This week: Emirates adds fourth South American destination and Ethiopian to operate Chicago O’Hare.

Ethiopian Airlines has finalised a shareholder agreement with the Zambian government to relaunch the southern African country’s national carrier.

Changi Airport in Singapore, the reigning overall winner at the Routes Asia Marketing Awards, has just crossed another milestone with more than 60 million passengers passing through its terminals in 2017. Routesonline finds out what’s driving the growth and which destinations in Europe and North America it is seeking to add to its route map.