Addis Ababa – Ethiopian Airlines' Ethiopian Flag Carrier (ET) has officially launched a new passenger service to Europe by connecting Addis Ababa (ADD) to Porto (OPO) in Portugal via Madrid (MAD).
This will expand the airline's European footprint and open new connection options between Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The new route is the first entry by Ethiopians into northern Portugal. Porto is currently part of a growing network of over 20 airlines in Europe.
Ethiopian Airlines Porto Flight
This new service connects Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Add) and Porto Airport (OPO). Porto is Portugal's second busiest airport. The flight will be operated at a technical stop in Madrid (MAD) on the west leg.
Flights operate four times a week using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, both passenger and cargo capacity. By including Porto, it will bring Portugal's total destinations to Ethiopian Airlines to two. This new service complements the airline's long-standing service to Lisbon.
It also offers direct alternatives to travelers in Northern Portugal and nearby areas who had to pass through Lisbon and other European hubs to reach their African and Asian destinations.
Route Schedule and Operation
Ethiopian airlines fly four times a week to Porto. The airline operates routes on the following weekly schedules (although changes are subject to change).
Outbound flights from Addis Ababa to Porto fly via Madrid. Inbound flights from Porto to Addis Ababa operate non-stop.
The ET712 flight from Addis Ababa will depart at 1:35am local time. We will arrive in Madrid at 7:55am local time. The fuel stop takes about an hour and 15 minutes, and flights depart from Madrid at 9:10am and arrive at Porto at 10am.
The return flight, ET713, departs from Porto at 2:10pm and arrives at Addis Ababa at 6am the next day.
Flights operate every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
A practical addition to your network
Ethiopian Airlines has long positioned Addis Ababa Hab as a link between Africa and the world. With the addition of Porto, the model strengthens this model by taking advantage of the underserved Northern Portugal market. Northern Portugal traditionally had no direct links to sub-Saharan Africa.
Porto's catchment includes not only the northern half of Portugal, but also parts of northwest Spain. Porto's catchment has strong Portuguese-speaking travelers with ties to Angola, Mozambique and other African countries.
Ethiopian Airlines said the route also provides freight demand. Northern Portugal is prone to perishing, and there is a growing demand for textiles and industrial components.
Ethiopian Dreamliner includes belly cargo capacity of 28-36 LD3 containers or berry cargo capacity of 9-11 pallets that can be leveraged for shipments in Africa and Europe.
Porto has Portugal's second largest export economy and a busy port. This opens the door for Ethiopian cargo to ultimately explore cargo-only opportunities in the region. If demand continues, it will help build on the airline's growing freighter network.
Lisbon has traditionally dominated the air link with Africa, but Porto offers strategic relevance as airline plans and secondary hub growth is increasing.
Conclusion
The addition of Porto reflects Ethiopian Airlines' plans to diversify its European network beyond its major hubs. In recent years, airlines have begun serving medium-sized cities such as Geneva and Manchester, focusing on point-to-point demand, diaspora traffic and trade links. These routes usually start on a limited frequency, giving the airline operational flexibility.
Whether the Portroot expands from four flights per week depends on passenger demand and commercial viability. Portugal has a considerable African diaspora, particularly from Rusophonian countries such as Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.
The new service also serves as a connection option to concentrate West African traffic through Addis Ababa, particularly on routes not being served by direct European links.
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