Vietnam connects directly to Africa via Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines' direct Addis Ababa - Hanoi route, which will open in July 2025, is creating a strategic turning point in trade and tourism as for the first time Vietnam has a direct flight to Africa, a continent with rich potential but little explored.

Historic direct flight connecting two continents

On October 2 in Hanoi , Ethiopian Airlines cooperated with Deks Air Vietnam Services Joint Stock Company to organize a seminar to introduce new products, flight network and policies. This is considered an important step for Ethiopian Airlines to officially penetrate and exploit the Vietnamese market.

Mr. Leulseged Desalegn, Representative Director of Ethiopian Airlines in Vietnam, commented: "Vietnam is entering an era of growth, deserving to be connected with world-class standards. The cooperation between Ethiopian Airlines and Deks Air Vietnam will be the key to unlocking the potential, making Vietnam a bridge in Ethiopian Airlines' global network in Africa, Europe, America and the Middle East."

The Addis Ababa - Hanoi route not only opens the first direct connection between Vietnam and Africa, but also helps Vietnamese passengers access dozens of destinations on the continent, along with many major global transit points with just one stop.

Mr. Leulseged Desalegn, Representative Director of Ethiopian Airlines in Vietnam shared at the workshop.

Promote trade, investment and tourism

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates four round-trip flights per week from Hanoi to Addis Ababa using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners; at the same time, it also provides regular cargo transportation services. This is an important advantage for Vietnamese import-export enterprises, especially in the context of increasing trade demand with emerging markets in Africa and the Middle East.

“Our goal is to provide Vietnamese exporters and traders with a reliable freight route, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's role as a global bridge,” Mr. Desalegn emphasized.

The route also promises to promote tourism and cultural exchange. With more than 66 destinations in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines brings Vietnamese passengers to culturally rich destinations such as Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town (South Africa), Zanzibar (Tanzania), with quick connections to Europe and America.

Preferential policies for the Vietnamese market

At the conference, Ethiopian Airlines announced many policies to support Vietnamese agents and customers, including preferential prices for groups of 10 or more, along with flexible name change and payment policies; special policies for corporate and official customers, including competitive prices, priority services, and the ShebaMiles frequent flyer program; an online portal system, training and partner support, helping agents easily access and sell products.

Mr. Bui Hai Nam, Head of Sales Department of Ethiopian Airlines in Hanoi said: “The seminar not only introduces new products, but also opens up unique travel and tourism cooperation opportunities, bringing optimal experiences to Vietnamese customers. We focus on customers, hoping to promote growth for both the business and the market."

“Golden bridge” Vietnam – Africa: Ethiopian Airlines opens up global trade and tourism opportunities.

A notable highlight is that Deks Air Vietnam, the General Agent of Ethiopian Airlines, has introduced the RailClick platform, an international train ticket booking system in cooperation with many major train lines in Europe such as Trenitalia, Eurostar, TGV, DB. RailClick opens a complete connection solution between air and rail, helping Vietnamese passengers design optimal itineraries when traveling for business, tourism or studying in Europe.

RailClick plans to continue expanding into the Americas, Asia and Africa markets, perfectly complementing Ethiopian Airlines' intercontinental connectivity strategy.

Vietnam, a "new piece" on the global aviation map

Ethiopian Airlines’ choice of Vietnam as its next destination reflects the increasingly important role of the Vietnamese economy in the international supply chain and trade. The Addis Ababa – Hanoi route not only serves travel needs, but also affirms Vietnam’s position on the global aviation map.

Deks Air Vietnam, a strategic partner of Ethiopian Airlines, with more than 10 years of experience in the Vietnamese market and 50 years in the field of international air transport, will be an important bridge to bring African aviation services closer to Vietnamese customers.

In the context of globalization and the increasing need for intercontinental connectivity, the presence of Ethiopian Airlines in Vietnam means much more than a direct flight. It is a “golden bridge” that opens up opportunities for trade, tourism, investment and cultural exchange between Vietnam and Africa, a large market of more than 1.4 billion people, while also connecting Vietnam more closely to the global network.

With a history of 80 years of development, Ethiopian Airlines currently owns a network of more than 145 international destinations and 22 domestic destinations, a young fleet of over 160 Boeing 737, 777, 787, Airbus A350 and Bombardier Q400 aircraft, with an average age of only 7 years. The airline has continuously won prestigious awards: 8 consecutive years of "Best Airline in Africa" ​​(Skytrax); "Best Overall Airline in Africa" ​​(APEX). Ethiopian Airlines is implementing its "Vision 2035" strategy, with the goal of becoming one of the top 20 airlines in the world.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/doanh-nghiep-san-pham-dich-vu/viet-nam-ket-noi-truc-tiep-chau-phi-qua-ethiopian-airlines-20251003093010609.htm