On July 10, Ethiopian Airlines commenced a new route from Addis Ababa to Hanoi, Vietnam. This route, previously unused for passenger flights, will operate four times weekly using the Boeing 787-8 aircraft with 270 seats. The flight will include a stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh, although fifth freedom traffic rights are not available.
This marks only the second time Africa has had passenger flights to Hanoi. Kenya Airways previously operated nonstop flights between Nairobi and Hanoi from 2015 to 2017 using the same type of aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines frequently utilizes one-stop operations within its network as a member of Star Alliance. These operations allow more destinations to be served and often enable increased frequency compared to nonstop services. However, passengers connecting through Addis Ababa may find two stops less competitive than other options requiring lower fares.