Ethiopian Airlines recently expanded its European network with the introduction of regular flights to Lyon, France, marking yet another step in the carrier’s gradual expansion across the continent.
While the new route is important in and of itself, it has sparked interest for an odd reason: it contains what is thought to be Europe’s shortest scheduled trip, flown by an Airbus A350-900.
The new route, which launched on July 2, connects Addis Ababa, Geneva, and Lyon.
The trip joining Geneva, Switzerland, with Lyon, France, spans barely 53 nautical miles (98 kilometers);, it is planned for around 45 minutes, SimplyFlying reports.
Despite the small distance, the trip is flown by an Airbus A350-900, which is generally used on long-haul international routes.
Lyon is Ethiopian Airlines’ newest destination in Europe, serving as an expansion of the airline’s current Geneva service.
The route replaces the carrier’s former Geneva-Brussels extension and runs three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Although Ethiopian Airlines operates the Geneva-Lyon route, travelers cannot order tickets between the two cities separately.
The airline does not have fifth-freedom traffic rights on that route; therefore, the brief flight is simply part of a longer trip to or from Addis Abeba and the carrier’s larger African and international network.
The route exemplifies Ethiopian Airlines’ objective of increasing connectivity through well-planned one-stop services.
Geneva also serves as a stop on the airline’s Manchester route, where it has fifth-freedom rights, allowing passengers to fly entirely between Geneva and Manchester, competing directly with easyJet.
Ethiopian Airlines currently serves three locations in France, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
The airline provides daily flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle, four weekly flights to Marseille, and three weekly flights to Lyon via Geneva, for a total of 14 weekly flights to France.
The expansion is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ overall growth plan, which aims to increase aviation linkages between Africa and Europe.
With an increasing fleet and plans for a new $12.5 billion airport near Addis Ababa capable of carrying 110 million people annually and accommodating 270 aircraft, the airline is preparing itself to satisfy rising demand while reinforcing its position as Africa’s top aviation center.
