Ethiopian Airlines marks 10th anniversary of service in Korea

Ethiopian Airlines' Boeing 787 aircraft / Courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines

By Kim Hyun-bin

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa's largest carrier, is commemorating its 10th anniversary of service in Korea. The celebration will take place on Tuesday in Seoul.

Ethiopian Airlines commenced operations on June 19, 2013, connecting Seoul with Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, thereby linking Africa and Korea. The decision to open this route was driven by the flourishing economic ties, trade, investment, business and tourism relations between Africa, Asia and Korea.

Initially, Ethiopian Airlines operated the Addis Ababa (ADD) to Incheon (ICN) via Hong Kong route using the B767 aircraft model. However, since June 2014, the airline has utilized the B787. Currently, Ethiopian Airlines operates the ADD-ICN-Narita (Japan) route five times a week.

Over the past decade, Ethiopian Airlines has successfully connected Korea with over 60 destinations in Africa, operating approximately 3,200 flights. During this period, the airline transported more than 225,000 passengers and 65,000 tons of cargo. Notably, between June 2022 and May 2023, Ethiopian Airlines achieved a record-breaking milestone by transporting 90,000 passengers within a year, further solidifying its position.

The airline's growth has been bolstered by the contributions of Sharp Aviation K, which provides comprehensive aviation services, including acting as a General Sales Agent (GSA) for passenger and cargo distribution, aircraft maintenance, passenger and cargo handling, ramp services, aircraft fueling, cargo terminal operations and in-flight catering. Ethiopian Airlines has maintained a strong partnership with Sharp Aviation K since signing a contract on January 13, 2013.

Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the global aviation industry, Ethiopian Airlines has demonstrated exceptional performance. Since its inception, the airline has played a pivotal role in facilitating social and economic exchanges between Africa and Korea.

Presently, Ethiopian Airlines operates from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, serving as a hub for more than 150 international and domestic passenger and cargo destinations, including Seoul, Korea.