Is it worth flying with Ethiopian Airlines? After spending 48 hours onboard the company’s aircraft, this post shares my experience with the airline’s fleet, service, food, entertainment, and the main downside of connecting through Addis Ababa, helping you decide if it is the right option for your trip.
This is a question I have heard many times, and one that I asked myself the first time this airline showed up in my searches. Is it worth flying with Ethiopian Airlines? After spending 48 hours inside the company’s aircraft, I can say that yes, it is.
The Company
Ethiopian Airlines is an African airline, and as the name suggests, it is from Ethiopia. It was founded in 1945 and is fully owned by the Ethiopian government.
Its main hub is in the capital, Addis Ababa, and today the airline serves more than 125 destinations worldwide. As of 2019, Ethiopian Airlines was the fourth-largest airline in the world by number of countries served, which gives a good idea of its global reach.
The Aircraft
The company operates one of the most modern fleets in the world, with several Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft flying on its international routes.
These newer planes make a noticeable difference in comfort, cabin noise, and overall flight experience, especially on long-haul routes.
Entertainment
The in-flight entertainment system consists of individual seatback screens.
The system is functional and does its job well, offering a reasonable selection of movies, series, and music for long flights.
Food
The food is tasty and plentiful, reminding me of airline meals from the 1990s, when portions were generous and meals felt more complete.
This was a pleasant surprise, especially considering how much airline food quality has declined over the years on many carriers.
Service
The onboard service is excellent. The flight attendants are very polite, attentive, and always ready to help. All of them speak English very well, which makes communication easy throughout the flight.
The weak point here is the airline’s website. It often feels incomplete and confusing, and in particular, if you want to purchase a ticket using Brazilian reais, you are required to go in person to the airline’s main office in São Paulo.
I ended up paying in US dollars for the convenience of buying directly through the website, but this is definitely a negative point for the airline.
The Airport
The biggest downside of the overall flight experience is Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
Despite recent renovations, the airport still lacks comfort and visual appeal. It feels more like a large warehouse made of assembled containers than a modern international hub. The airport is far too small for the volume of traffic it handles.
There are only 11 gates for approximately 450 daily flights, which leads to long lines everywhere. This includes restaurants, restrooms, and even access to the boarding gates themselves.
Conclusion
The quality of the aircraft, onboard service, food, and entertainment compensates for the lack of comfort during the layover at the airport, especially when the ticket price is significantly cheaper than that of other airlines.
If price is a deciding factor and you are prepared for a less comfortable connection, Ethiopian Airlines can be a very good option.
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