Ethiopian Airlines will resume daily passenger services to Durban, South Africa, from 11 December 2026, restoring the city to its international network and adding a third destination in South Africa alongside Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The resumed service will operate through Ethiopian Airlines’ Addis Ababa hub, providing passengers with connectivity between Durban and destinations across the airline’s wider African and global network. The route is also expected to support business, tourism and trade links between South Africa and international markets.
Daily Durban Service from Addis Ababa
The service will operate daily under flight numbers ET 889 and ET 888.
The Addis Ababa–Durban service, ET 889, will depart Addis Ababa at 08:35 and arrive in Durban at 13:25. The return flight, ET 888, will depart Durban at 14:15 and arrive in Addis Ababa at 21:00.
The route will give travellers another connection between South Africa and Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive network via Addis Ababa.
Expanding Connectivity with South Africa
Durban becomes Ethiopian Airlines’ third destination in South Africa following Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The airline has maintained operations in the South African market for more than three decades. It began services to Johannesburg in 1993 before adding Cape Town in 2015.
Over the years, Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its presence in the market in response to demand for passenger and cargo air transportation.
Supporting Business, Tourism and Trade
The resumption of the Durban route is expected to strengthen connectivity between South Africa and the rest of the airline’s network, with potential implications for business travel, tourism and trade.
Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, said, “We are delighted to welcome Durban back to our network. The resumption of this daily service underscores our commitment to providing seamless connectivity and greater travel choices for our passengers within Africa and beyond. We see strong potential to further enhance trade, tourism, and business links between South Africa and our extensive global network through our Addis Ababa hub. As Africa’s largest airline, we remain committed to expanding our network and bringing more destinations closer to our customers.”
Strengthening Intra-African Connectivity
The return to Durban forms part of Ethiopian Airlines’ wider focus on expanding connectivity across the African continent and linking African destinations with international markets.
With Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town in its South African network, the airline will offer three destinations in the country from December 2026.
