Ethiopian and Air India Expand Codeshare - 11 January, 2015

Offering Unparalleled Air Connectivity Options between India and Africa

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, and Air India, India’s national carrier, have expanded their codeshare coverage, thus enabling customers travelling between India and Africa to enjoy seamless and unparalleled connectivity options between domestic Indian points and African destinations.

Ethiopian operates daily flights to both Mumbai and New Delhi. The two Star Alliance member carriers, which have already a codeshare in place for the Mumbai and New Delhi routes, have expanded their agreement to include African points on Ethiopian operated network thru its main hub in Addis Ababa, such as Kigali, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Harare and Nairobi, and on Air India’s domestic routes beyond Mumbai and New Delhi with the inclusion of Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: "We are very pleased to further expand the successful codeshare partnership we already have with our Star Alliance partner Air India. Availing more routes and seamless connectivity options will greatly benefit the significant number of Indian community in Africa as well as Africans traveling to India for business or leisure, thereby improving the investment, trade, tourism and people-to-people ties between India and Africa.

With a single ticket, passengers from Air India and Ethiopia will be able to fly to many African and Indian destinations, and with the recent joining of Air India into Star Alliance accrue and redeem their miles freely on both carriers."

Ethiopian is planning to significantly scale-up its footprint in the Indian market with the start of double-daily flights and the opening of a new route in Southern India in 2015.

Ethiopian is a global Pan-African carrier currently serving 84 international destinations across 5 continents with over 200 daily flights and using the latest technology aircraft such as the B777s and B787s.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa. In 2014, IATA ranked Ethiopian as the largest airline in Africa in revenue and profit. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has been a pioneer of African aviation as an aircraft technology leader providing the first jet service in the continent in 1962, and availing the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010 and the first African and second only to Japan B787 Dreamliner in 2012.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 83 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units: Ethiopian International Passenger Service; Ethiopian Regional Service; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Service and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning, including SKYTRAX and Passenger Choice Awards in 2013 and has been registering an average growth of 25% per annum in the past seven years.