Ethiopian Airlines will resume daily passenger flights to Durban, South Africa, on December 11, restoring a route that will become the carrier’s third destination in the country. The airline stopped flying to Durban a decade ago.
The service will operate between Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, giving travelers another connection between South Africa and Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive international network.
Durban is South Africa’s third-largest city and a major tourism, commercial and port center. The restored service gives the airline another gateway into the country while expanding options for passengers traveling between southern Africa, Ethiopia and destinations farther afield.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the return to Durban reflects the carrier’s focus on expanding connectivity within Africa while giving passengers more travel options through its Addis Ababa hub.
The airline has served the South African market for more than 30 years. It began flying to Johannesburg in 1993 and added Cape Town in 2015.
Ethiopian said it has progressively expanded its South African operations in response to demand for both passenger and cargo services.
The Durban route will also strengthen connections between the South African city and Ethiopian’s global network, with Addis Ababa serving as the connecting point for onward travel.
Flight ET889 will depart Addis Ababa at 8:35 a.m. and arrive in Durban at 1:25 p.m. The return flight, ET888, will leave Durban at 2:15 p.m. and reach Addis Ababa at 9 p.m.
