Ethiopian Airlines Begins New Flights to European Tourist Hotspot

ADDIS ABABA- The flag carrier of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines (ET), has officially launched a new passenger service to Europe by connecting Addis Ababa (ADD) to Porto (OPO), Portugal, via Madrid (MAD).

This expands the airline’s European footprint and opens up new connectivity options between Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The new route is the Ethiopian’s first entry into northern Portugal. Porto is now a part of the airline’s growing network of more than 20 in Europe.

Ethiopian Airlines Cake Cutting Ceremony on Inaugural Porto Flight | Photo: Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines Porto Flights

The new service will connect Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) with Porto Airport (OPO). Porto is Portugal’s second-busiest airport. The flights will be operated with a technical stop in Madrid (MAD) on the westbound leg.

The flights will be operated four times a week using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with capacity for both passengers and cargo. The inclusion of Porto brings Ethiopian Airlines’ total destinations in Portugal to two. The new service complements the airline’s long-standing service to Lisbon.

It also offers a direct alternative for travelers in northern Portugal and neighboring regions who previously had to transit through Lisbon or other European hubs to reach destinations in Africa or Asia.

Ethiopian Airlines Inaugural Flight to Porto | Photo: Ethiopian Airlines

Route Schedule and Operation

Ethiopian Airlines will fly four times weekly to Porto. The airline is operating the route on the following weekly schedule (subject to change):

Outbound flights from Addis Ababa to Porto will fly via Madrid. Inbound flights from Porto to Addis Ababa will operate non-stop.

Flight ET712 from Addis Ababa departs at 01:35 am local time. It reaches Madrid at 07:55 am local time. With a fuel stop of about 1 hour and 15 minutes, the flight will depart from Madrid at 09:10 am and will reach Porto at 10:00 am.

The return flight, ET713, will depart from Porto at 21:10 pm and will reach Addis Ababa at 06:00 am the next day.

Flights will be operated on every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Ethiopian Airlines, ET-AQO, Boeing 737-860, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66221566

A Practical Addition to the Network

Ethiopian Airlines has long positioned its Addis Ababa hub as a connecting point between Africa and the rest of the world. The addition of Porto strengthens this model by tapping into the under-served northern Portugal market. Northern Portugal has traditionally lacked direct links to sub-Saharan Africa.

Porto’s catchment area includes not only the northern half of Portugal but also parts of northwestern Spain. The catchment area of Porto has strong Portuguese-speaking travelers with ties to Angola, Mozambique, and other African nations.

Ethiopian Airlines said that the route will also serve cargo demand. Northern Portugal has huge perishable, textile, and industrial component demand.

Ethiopian Dreamliners include belly cargo capacity of 28 to 36 LD3 containers or 9 to 11 pallets that can be leveraged for Africa-Europe shipments.

Porto is home to Portugal’s second-largest export economy and a busy seaport. This opens the door for Ethiopian Cargo to eventually explore cargo-only opportunities in the region. It can help build on the airline’s growing freighter network if demand persists.

Lisbon has traditionally dominated air links with Africa, but with increasing decentralization in airline planning and the growth of secondary hubs, Porto offers strategic relevance.

Photo: Eurospot

Bottom Line

The addition of Porto reflects Ethiopian Airlines’ plans to diversify its European network beyond major hubs. In recent years, the airline has launched services to secondary cities like Geneva and Manchester, focusing on point-to-point demand, diaspora traffic, and trade links. These routes typically begin with limited frequencies, giving the airline operational flexibility.

Whether the Porto route scales up from four weekly flights will depend on passenger demand and commercial viability. Portugal has a sizable African diaspora, particularly from Lusophone countries like Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau.

The new service will also serve as a connecting option for West African traffic funneling through Addis Ababa, particularly on routes underserved by direct European links.

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