Addis Ababa, 01 July 2026
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, is pleased to announce the commencement of its new thrice weekly passenger service to Lyon, France, effective July 2, 2026, further strengthening its presence in Europe and enhancing connectivity between Africa and the region.
The commencement of the new service marks another milestone in Ethiopian Airlines’ network expansion strategy, offering passengers additional seamless connections between Europe and Africa. The route links Lyon to Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive global network via Addis Ababa, opening greater travel opportunities and strengthening business, tourism, and trade relations between France and destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.
Commenting on the commencement of the new service, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, stated, “We are truly delighted to connect our passengers to an additional getaway in France with our new flights to Lyon. France has been an integral part of Ethiopian Airlines’ network for decades, and throughout this time we have connected Paris and Marseille with numerous destinations across Africa through seamless links via our hub in Addis Ababa. The addition of Lyon further strengthens these long-standing ties, providing greater connectivity and more travel options for passengers traveling between France and the extensive Ethiopian Airlines network.’’
.jpg?sfvrsn=17d6243c_1)
With the addition of Lyon, Ethiopian Airlines now serves three destinations in France—Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, further reinforcing its presence in the French market and strengthening its footprint across Europe. As the airline continues to expand its network with new routes spanning multiple continents, it remains committed to its mission of connecting Africa to the world through seamless connectivity, enhanced travel opportunities, and world-class service.
About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is a true African success story, transforming a visionary dream into a globally renowned reality for nearly eight decades. Operating flights to more than 160 domestic and international passenger, and cargo destinations across five continents, Ethiopian bridges the gaps between Africa and the world. Emphasizing passenger comfort and environmental sustainability, Ethiopian utilizes ultra-modern aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900, A350-1000 and De Havilland Q400.
Ethiopian, the Star Alliance member airline, champions in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for eight consecutive years, APEX ‘Best Overall in Africa’ award and ‘Leadership in Connecting Africa through Transport’ Award among others. Ethiopian aims to further excel in its success through a strategic plan dubbed ‘Vision 2035’ and become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world. Embracing a Pan-African spirit, Ethiopian is pursuing multi-hub strategy through hubs in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines, in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways, and in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Air Congo.
For more information, visit our website at www.ethiopianairlines.com email us at CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com , or call us at (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907.
