Addis Ababa – Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Africa's largest airline, has announced new direct flights between Hyderabad (HYD) and Addis Ababa (ADD). The airline will begin operating flights to Hyderabad from June 16, 2025.
This is an important step in strengthening India-Africa ties while expanding Ethiopian Airlines' footprint in the Indian subcontinent.
Ethiopia Flights from Hyderabad to Addis Ababa
Starting June 16, 2025, Ethiopian Airlines will connect Hyderabad and Addis Ababa. The airline operates three flights a week. The great circle distance between the two cities is approximately 4,385 km, or 2724.7 miles.
Flight ET682 departs Addis Ababa at 4:10pm local time. It will reach Hyderabad at 12:40 AM IST (+1). The scheduled block time for the flight is 6 hours. Flights depart from Addis Ababa every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The return flight ET683 will depart from Hyderabad at 1:55 AM IST. The flight will arrive in Addis Ababa at 5:55 a.m. local time. Expected block time for the return trip is approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. Flights from Hyderabad operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Ethiopian Airlines will deploy Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft to Hyderabad. The aircraft is equipped with 160 seats. Ethiopian Airlines' 737 MAX-8 consists of 16 business class seats and 144 economy class seats.
Growing Ethiopian Network
Also known as the 'City of Pearls', Hyderabad has grown into an important economic center. Ethiopian Airlines' decision to fly to Hyderabad reflects the opportunities this city can offer. This will mark the first time that a direct flight will be launched from Hyderabad to Africa.
Home to Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa serves as a major hub for transit passengers traveling to Africa, Europe and the Americas. Hyderabad will be the airline's fifth destination in India, joining its existing operations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
This new route will enable travelers from Hyderabad to seamlessly connect to more than 130 destinations in Ethiopian Airlines' global network, including major cities such as Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos and North America.
Expanding demand in India and Africa
Air travel demand between India and Africa has grown consistently over the years. This growth was primarily driven by increased trade relations, investment, and tourism. Hyderabad is an important center for the pharmaceutical industry and has strong links with African countries.
In 2023, 80,000 people traveled between Hyderabad and the African continent. This highlights that there is considerable demand for connectivity between cities and Africa.
Ethiopian Airlines' new flights to Hyderabad also reflect the airline's strategy to capture a share of this growing demand.
Cultural ties also play an important role in fostering connections between the two regions. There has been a significant increase in the movement of students and tourists between India and Africa, making such direct air links even more important.
Strengthening bilateral relations
The launch of the Hyderabad-Addis Ababa route will further strengthen ties between India and Africa. India is Africa's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $90 billion in recent years. As the headquarters of the African Union, Ethiopia is an important partner for India in its engagement with the continent.
In July 2024, Ethiopian Airlines' request to add further rights was approved. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has also granted an additional triple weekly entitlement, increasing the total weekly flight entitlements from 35 to 38 per week.
Following this development, Ethiopian Airlines was scheduled to fly to Hyderabad in October 2024, but the flight was not accepting reservations. The airline will finally start flying to Hyderabad from June 2025.
conclusion
Ethiopian Airlines' new Hyderabad-Addis Ababa route is set to bridge the gap between the two rapidly growing cities and provide new opportunities for trade, travel and tourism.
How successful this route will be will depend on demand from both business and leisure travelers, but given the current dynamics between India and Africa, the chances of success seem high.
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