Airline Chronological History
After the liberation of Ethiopia, the Emperor at the time asked the United States, United Kingdom, and France to help establish an airline as part of a modernization programme. On 8 September 1945, TWA signed an agreement with the American historian and foreign affairs advisor to Ethiopia to establish a commercial aviation company in Ethiopia. The carrier, originally called Ethiopian Air Lines was founded on 21 December 1945. The company was financed by the Ethiopian government but managed by TWA. At the beginning, it relied upon American pilots, technicians, administrators and accountants; even its general managers were from TWA.
The board held the first meeting on 26 December 1945, to acquire aircraft and spare parts. the airline negotiated for landing rights with Aden, Egypt, French Somaliland, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Five Douglas C-47s were bought; these aircraft were flown to Addis Ababa in February 1946.
The new airline's maiden flight to Nairobi carried a shipment of East African currency in February 1946, but the first scheduled service was on 8 April 1946 between the Addis Ababa–Asmara–Cairo.
Ethiopian Airlines started operations with the Douglas C-47 prop-planes in April 1946. (Photo:pinterest.co.uk) Soon afterwards, the carrier launched services to Aden and Djibouti, as well as a domestic flight to Jimma. New scheduled services to Sheikh Othman and Nairobi were launched in July 1946 and June 1947, respectively. In 1947, the company started operating charter flights to Jeddah during the Hajj season.
In September 1948, the route to Bombay became a scheduled route, previously flown only charters. Services to Bombay were withdrawn in July 1950. Also in 1950, the carrier was able to incorporate Convair CV-240s, aimed at operating international routes. By May 1952 the fleet consisted of two Convair-Liner 240s and nine Douglas DC-3s.
The Convair CV-240 arrived in 1950 to open up new international routes. (Photo:pinterest.co.uk) 
During the 1950's the reliable DC-3 was the workhorse for Ethiopian Airlines. (Photo:airliners.net) A new service to Athens via Khartoum and Wadi Halfa was launched on 3 April 1954. A third Convair CV-240 was purchased from Sabena in 1955. The carrier was in need of newer and larger aircraft. Two Douglas DC-6Bs were eventually ordered in 1956, including spares, an option for a third machine was also taken.
In 1957, the airline had been asked to take a Lockheed L-749 that had been given as a gift to the Emperor, who declined it. Ethiopian incorporated it into the fleet on 4 June 1957. On 21 Jun, the route to Athens was extended both to the north and to the south so that Frankfurt and Nairobi became linked by the same corridor, operated with DC-6Bs. By this time, the Convairs were redeployed to serve domestic and regional routes.
During 1959 two Boeing 720Bs were ordered and scheduled for delivery in December 1961, two more DC-6Bs entered the fleet, services to Nairobi were suspended once more and the airline's list of domestic destinations saw the incorporation of Bulchi, Dodollo, Lalibela and Masawa. Port Sudan was removed from the list of destinations on 1 March 1960.
The first East–West link made by an African airline started on 8 November, when the Addis Ababa–Accra–Lagos–Monrovia route was launched using DC-6B equipment. In March 1962, two more DC-3s were acquired, and registered. It was also decided to build a new airport to replace the Lideta Airfield, unable to accommodate the Boeing 720 jetliner the company intended to acquire. This was the birth of Bole International Airport, where the company set its headquarters.
In December 1962, the arrival of two Boeing 720s ordered directly from Boeing marked the carrier's entrance into the jet age. The first jet service took place on 15 January 1963 to Nairobi. The following day, a new service to Madrid was flown using the new jet equipment, with Frankfurt joining the jet network soon afterward. On 1 April, the Boeing 720 replaced the DC-6B on the Addis Ababa–Athens route; during that month, the West African corridor also benefited from jet operations.
During the end of the 1950's the DC-6B was brought in as bigger and faster planes were required. (Photo:airliners.net) 
The Boeing 720 was the first jet for Ethiopian Airlines, in 1962. (Photo:airliners.net) Also in the early 1960s, the carrier provided some initial aviation support to the Ethiopia-United States Mapping Mission in its operation to acquire topographic maps of Ethiopia. The firm changed from a corporation to a share company in 1965, and changed its name from Ethiopian Air Lines to Ethiopian Airlines.
By 1966, the contractual relationship with TWA was adjusted to reflect the transfer of management with the appointment of an Ethiopian deputy general manager. Two Boeing 720s were in operation and a Boeing 707-320C was due to be phased in by March 1968, when the carrier ordered a second -320C.
By the late 1960's the fleet counted with the Boeing 707 for long haul operations to Europe. (Photo: aviationphotocompany.com) In 1970, the fifth renewal of the original 1945 contract changed TWA's role from manager to adviser. On its 25th anniversary in 1971, the company was ready to continue without foreign assistance. Since then, Ethiopian Airlines has been managed and staffed by Ethiopian personnel. Two Boeing 720Bs were acquired from Continental Airlines in 1973. In 1975, the carrier ordered five Dash 7s.
Ethiopian Airlines had became a new customer for the Boeing 727 in 1978, ordering two. The 727s arrived in 1979 as a replacement for the oldest Boeing 720s.
From 1979, the Boeing 727 was operating with Ethiopian Airlines for regional routes in Africa. (Photo:airliners.net) The DHC-5 Buffalo entered Ethiopian's fleet in the early 1980s. In 1982, Ethiopian became the first African carrier in ordering the Boeing 767, as well as the first airline to order the Boeing 767-200ER. They came to replace the remaining Boeing 720s. Ethiopian Airlines attracted worldwide attention on 1st June 1984 when its first Boeing 767 landed at Bole after a thirteen-and-a-half hour delivery flight from New York - setting a new world distance record for a commercial twin-engine jet. The airline, which was a launch customer for the new aircraft. At the end of 1985, when the DC-3/Skytrains started to be withdrawn, the airline still had nine of these in service, all of them at least 40 years old. The last of these aircraft remained in service until October, 1991.
ATR-42s and Twin Otters were incorporated into the fleet in the mid-1980s, with the first of six Twin Otters entering the fleet in early 1985. The Boeing 737-200 joined the fleet in late 1987.
In 1984, the Boeing 767 (pictured) was introduced and replaced older B720/707. (Photo:airliners.net) 
Twin Otter's helped the airline connect the more remote comminuties as they could land on rough gravel runways. (Photo:wikimedia.org) 
In 1987, Boeing 737-200 arrived as it expanded its operations. (Photo: aviation-safety.net) In 1990, Ethiopian became the first passenger airline in taking delivery of the Boeing 757 Freighter, receiving the first of five Boeing 757-200s a year later.
By 1996 the airline was flying to Bangkok, Beijing, Durban and Johannesburg; routes to Ivory Coast and Senegal were also being operated. Furthermore, the Fokker 50 entered the fleet to operate domestic routes In the late 1990s the carrier saw the incorporation of Copenhagen and Maputo to its international network, as well as New York City and Washington as transatlantic destinations. The frequent flyer programme, named "Sheba Miles" after the legendary Queen of Sheba, was launched too.
For domestic services, the Fokker 50 was added in 1996. (Photo:airliners.net) Tragic news occurred on the 23 of November 1996, when a Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767, involving Flight 961, was hijacked. This incident was widely known as one of the deadliest hijackings in history and the first recorded ditching of a wide-body aircraft. Three Ethiopians seeking asylum in Australia hijacked the Boeing 767-200ER shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa. They ignored Captain Leul Abate’s warnings that the plane did not have enough fuel to reach Australia. After nearly four hours, the plane ran out of fuel. Captain Abate attempted an emergency water landing (ditching) just 450 meters off Le Galawa Beach in the Comoro Islands. The aircraft struck a coral reef, cartwheeled, and broke apart. Of the 175 people on board, 125 died, including the three hijackers, 50 people survived, including Captain Leul Abate and First Officer Yonas Mekuria.
Seconds before the fatal crash of the Boeing 767, on 23 of November 1996, when Flight 961, was hijacked. Moving forward, a fleet renewal started in the early 2000s, with the incorporation of the Boeing 737– 700 and the Boeing 767-300ER. The airline discontinued its service to Newark in favour of serving Washington in 2004. In 2009 Ethiopian ordered 35 new airplanes direct from the manufacturers. Including the orders of five B777-200LR and twelve A350-900, Ethiopian announced it would be the launch customer of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, placing an order ten Boeing B787 and eight Bombardier aircrafts.
Ethiopian received three Boeing 777-200LLRs in 2011 increasing the total number of 777-200LRs to five.Ethiopian started new services to Hangzhou-China, to Malakal-Southern Sudan, Milan-Italy, Muscat-Oman. Ethiopian also launched daily nonstop flights to Beijing with its long range B777-200.
From 2011 the Boeing 777-200LR increased efficeinetly and comfort for the long haul routes. (Photo: airplane-pictures.net) In late September 2010, Ethiopian Airlines was officially invited to join Star Alliance under the mentoring of Lufthansa. The carrier became a member of the alliance in December 2011, the third Africa-based carrier in doing so.
Ethiopian took delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on August 14, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Ethiopian took another leap forward by receiving its second Boeing 787 Dreamliner October 3, 2012. Ethiopian takes delivery of the second 737-800 Sky Interior Aircraft. Ethiopian started new services to Toronto-Canada and Berbera, the port city of Somaliland. Ethiopian also increased frequencies on its Abidjan route by offering daily flights.
During 2012, Ethiopian takes delivery of the first of its five re-configured Bombardier Q-400 aircraft. and places firm orders for five more Q400 NextGen aircrafts.
In 2013 Ethiopian started new services to Blantyre, Ndola, Seoul, Enugu-Nigeria, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Niamey-Niger, Singapore, Semere-Ethiopia. The airline received brand new next generation Boeing 737-800 with Sky Interior. It received its sixth Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner and took delivery of its first B777-300ER leased from Boeing.
With the arrival of the Boeing 787 in 2012, Ethiopian launched new routes to Europe, Asia and America. (Photo:Airplane-Pictures.net) 
Another long haul aircraft was the Boeing 777-300, first delivered in 2013. (Photo:Airplane-Pictures.net) In 2014, Ethiopian started new services to Doha-Qatar, Vienna-Austria, Kano-Nigeria, Shanghai-China, Bale Robe & Kombolcha -Ethiopia. Ethiopian also launched four daily flights to Nairobi and daily flights to London. Also in 2014 Ethiopian received four more Boeing 787 in 2014 increasing the total number of B787 to ten. Ethiopian Airlines ordered 20 737 MAX 8s from Boeing.
It started new flights in 2015 to Cape Town (South Africa), Gaborone (Botswana), Los Angeles (USA), Dublin (Ireland), Goma (Dem. Rep. of Congo), Tokyo (Japan), Manila (Philippines), Yaounde (Cameroon), Sao Paulo (Brazil) and new cargo destination to Bengaluru (India).
In 2016, Ethiopian is the 1st Airline in Africa to Receive the Airbus A350-900 and first in the World to fly it in African Skies. The Airbus 350 made its debut flight to Ethiopian destinations including: Yaoundé Cameroon, Kigali,Nairobi, Lagos, Bujumbura, London Heathrow, Douala, Malabo, Southern Africa, Lusaka, Harare, N’Djamena and Entebbe. Also the Addis Ababa–Lomé–Newark flight was to resume in July 2016.
From 2016, the airline took delivery of it's newest long haul aircraft, the Airbus A350-900. (Photo:airplane-pictures.net) At the 2017 Paris Airshow, Ethiopian announced an additional firm order for 10 Airbus A350-900s. The airline also exercised its options for 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8s they had from their original order in 2014. In October 2017, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Buenos Aires became the second stop for the airline in the South American continent starting on March 8, 2018 as an addition to the existing Addis Ababa-São Paulo flight.
Later in 2018, Ethiopian Airlines placed a repeat order for the Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 in July 2018.
The Boeing 737-Max8 was the latest addition to Ethiopian's fleet in July 2018. (Photo:ch-aviation.com) In 2018, Ethiopian Airlines continued to expand its long-haul footprint, launching services to destinations such as Chicago O’Hare in June 2018, further strengthening its presence in North America. The carrier also added routes within Africa and Asia, reinforcing its strategy of connecting secondary African cities to global markets via Addis Ababa. Fleet expansion remained central to its growth model, and Ethiopian continued taking delivery of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350-900 Meanwhile, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport underwent significant expansion, with the opening of a new passenger terminal in early 2019 that would eventually increase annual capacity to over 22 million passengers.
A defining moment in the airline’s history occurred on 10 March 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the tragic loss of all 157 people on board. The accident led to the worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet. As one of the first airlines globally to receive the 737 MAX, Ethiopian had incorporated the aircraft into its regional and medium-haul expansion plans. The grounding forced the airline to suspend MAX operations and adjust capacity across its network.
On the 10 March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed shortly after take-off, resulting in the loss of all 157 people on board. The type would be then grounded until February 2022. (Photo: dailymail.co.uk) Throughout 2019, Ethiopian strengthened its pan-African network, adding destinations such as Asmara (resumed), Garowe, and other regional cities. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 marked another pivotal chapter. As global passenger demand collapsed due to travel restrictions, Ethiopian Airlines faced an unprecedented decline in passenger traffic. However, unlike many global carriers that grounded most of their fleets, Ethiopian adopted a distinctive strategy centered on cargo operations. Addis Ababa emerged as a major logistics hub for Africa during the pandemic, and Ethiopian played a crucial role in distributing medical supplies across the continent.
Despite the severe downturn in passenger numbers during 2020, Ethiopian Airlines managed to avoid the large-scale government bailouts that many other airlines required, although it is state-owned. Ethiopian also launched new cargo routes to destinations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, capitalizing on disrupted global supply chains.
Thanks to its strong fleet of Cargo B777's, Ethiopian Airlines was able to navigate the pandemic until it subsided in 2022 as restrictions lifted opened. (Photo: jetphotos.com) In the midst of the pandemic, Ethiopian did not halt its long-term fleet modernization. Deliveries of Airbus A350-900 aircraft continued, and the airline maintained orders for additional A350s, including the higher-capacity A350-1000 variant, which it ordered in 2022. The airline also resumed taking delivery of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after global regulators cleared the type to return to service in late 2020 and 2021. Ethiopian was among the first African airlines to reintroduce the 737 MAX into commercial service in February 2022 after implementing additional training and safety modifications.
In Africa, the airline continued to densify its network in 2021, adding destinations such as Bulawayo, Ndola, and other underserved cities, reinforcing Addis Ababa’s role as a pan-African hub. In 2022, leadership changes marked another significant development. Tewolde GebreMariam stepped down for health reasons, and Mesfin Tasew Bekele was appointed as the new Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.
Fleet growth remained robust during 2022 and 2023. Ethiopian took delivery of additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft and exercised options for more units, while also confirming orders for Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The airline diversified its narrow-body fleet by introducing the Boeing 737-800 converted freighter and expanding its turboprop operations with the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 for regional services. In 2023, Ethiopian Airlines signed agreements to order the Boeing 737-8Max and 737-10Max variants, reinforcing its commitment to Boeing’s narrow-body family despite the earlier MAX crisis. Simultaneously, the airline expanded its cargo fleet, adding more Boeing 777 freighters.
Route development between 2022 and 2024 included new long-haul destinations such as Chennai (resumed), Copenhagen (resumed), Karachi (resumed), and new services to Warsaw and Lisbon. The airline also launched flights to Hyderabad and increased frequencies to major global cities including Washington D.C., Toronto, and Dubai. In the Americas, Ethiopian strengthened its presence by increasing services to Newark and Chicago, while maintaining its historic Washington Dulles route, which has long been one of its flagship North American services. In Asia, Ethiopian expanded connectivity to China, restoring and increasing flights to Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai as Chinese travel restrictions eased.
By 2024 and into 2025, Ethiopian Airlines expanded its aviation ecosystem. Ethiopian Aviation Academy increased training capacity for pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance technicians, attracting students from across Africa and beyond. Ethiopian MRO Services expanded its maintenance capabilities, servicing not only its own fleet but also third-party airlines. The airline invested in digital transformation, upgrading reservation systems, enhancing mobile booking platforms, and introducing biometric and self-service airport technologies.
In November 2024, Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of the first Airbus A350-1000. (Photo: planespotters.net) Geopolitical challenges, including internal conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region beginning in 2020, occasionally affected perceptions and certain regional operations, but the airline maintained international services and continued to position itself as politically neutral in its commercial activities. Despite external pressures, Ethiopian Airlines remained a symbol of national development and a strategic economic pillar for Ethiopia.
Today, the airline has thus experienced a period defined by resilience and ambition. Ethiopian Airlines stands not only as Africa’s largest airline but also as one of the most strategically significant carriers in the Global South, continuing to expand its destinations, aircraft portfolio, and global influence while shaping the future of African aviation.
Airline Factual Information
As of 2026, the carrier serves over 140 international and 22 domestic passenger destinations. Ethiopian serves more destinations in Africa than any other airline.
It has embarked on a substantial growth programme, adding many more destinations and making Addis Ababa a major transit hub in the African Continent.
The African Airline is now one of the most respected and solid airlines in the continent and has won many awards and recognitions for its work, social investment and expansion.
The Airport at Addis Ababa, Bole International Airport, is the main hub where all its international flights operate from and it's the connecting point for its domestic network. The airline's flies to the following destinations*:
Updated March 2026
The airline has come a long way in the last decade to upgrade it's fleet and products. Making it a premium airline in the African Continent to fly to/from and transit. It's fleet consists of one of the youngest and most modern fleets in Africa with a very reliable workforce. In total Ethiopian Airlines has a fleet or more than 145 aircraft. On 5 March 2024, Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing announced an agreement for the purchase of eight 777-9 passenger aircraft. The agreement secures its position as the launch customer for the Boeing 777X in Africa, the date is yet to be announced as the type is pending certification.
The fleet* currently consists of the following aircraft:
Updated March 2026
Reviews and comments ⭐
What Stands Out 😀👍 | Needs Improvement 🫤👎 |
✅ Modern Fleet & Cabin Comfort: Passengers frequently praise the use of new aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, noting spacious legroom and clean interiors. | 👎 Unresponsive Customer Support: A major pain point is the difficulty in reaching human representatives or receiving timely responses to emails regarding refunds and claims. |
✅ Strategic Global Connectivity: Reviewers highlight the airline as a reliable "bridge" between continents, offering convenient connections through the Addis Ababa hub. | 👎 Baggage Mishandling: Numerous reports cite luggage being delayed or lost during transit in Addis Ababa, often with little to no proactive tracking or updates provided. |
✅ Award-Winning Onboard Catering: Positive reviews often mention the quality and variety of the meals, particularly the traditional Ethiopian options and business class dining. | 👎 Difficult Refund Processes: Passengers describe the process for obtaining refunds for cancelled or double-charged flights as tedious, often taking months of persistent follow-up. |
✅ Professional In-Flight Service: Many travelers commend the cabin crew for being attentive, kind, and professional during the flight, especially on long-haul routes. | 👎 Inconsistent Ground Service: Ground staff at check-in and transfer desks are frequently described as unhelpful or rigid, particularly when dealing with missed connections or delays. |
✅ Strong Value for Money: Compared to Middle Eastern or European carriers, many budget-conscious travelers find the fares to be highly competitive for the quality of the flight. | 👎 IT and App Glitches: Frequent complaints focus on the airline's website and mobile app, citing issues with online check-in, seat selection, and misleading baggage information. |
*Reviews are collected from independent sites and compelled by the most representative reviews and comments. Planet Airlines Ltd remains impartial to any airlines.