New Flight Link Makes Africa–Asia Trips Easier via Two Hubs

Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have launched a new codeshare agreement, expanding travel options across Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Ethiopian Airlines will start operating flights from Addis Ababa to Abu Dhabi on 15 July. Etihad will follow with daily services to Addis Ababa beginning 8 October. Passengers can now book a single ticket covering both carriers and check their baggage through to the final destination, reducing the need for separate processes at connecting airports.

This marks the first stage of a broader cooperation signed earlier this year in March. By linking their networks via two regional hubs, the airlines introduce new possibilities for passengers travelling between continents that are not directly connected by nonstop services. The codeshare applies to selected routes that previously required longer layovers or separate arrangements and is expected to influence how certain long-distance journeys are planned and booked in the months ahead.

From Addis Ababa, passengers can catch linked flights to destinations such as Lusaka or Victoria Falls, now part of the updated travel network through this codeshare. In Lusaka, travellers can drop by the National Museum of Zambia, where old photos, exhibits and artefacts tell the story of how the country has changed over the years, from politics to everyday culture. In the city, small local markets and family-run food spots give a sense of what daily life really looks like for residents. Victoria Falls, not far from the Zambezi River, stretches out in a massive sheet of water and is often included in trips by those visiting nearby wildlife areas and riverside settlements.

Travellers passing through Abu Dhabi can now get to places such as Colombo or Phnom Penh without having to juggle multiple bookings or separate tickets. In Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, the Fort area provides a look at colonial-era buildings, while nearby public beaches and temples are accessible without extensive travel. Phnom Penh, on the other hand, contains historical institutions such as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the National Museum, which document key chapters of Cambodia’s past and attract travellers interested in regional history.

Rather than creating entirely new routes, the agreement restructures how existing ones can be accessed. The setup lets travellers use both airlines as if they were one, with synced schedules and one booking system, making long trips work in a new, more connected way. For many travellers, this may reduce the number of layovers required and make it more feasible to connect between cities in Africa and Southeast Asia without relying on European stopovers. It reflects a shift in how airlines respond to gaps in long-distance route planning.