Ethiopian Starts Flights to Manila after two-year Delay

Ethiopian Airlines has today (09JUL15) launched the much anticipated new service to Manila in the Philippines, from Addis Ababa.

The three-times-weekly link will be operated with Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with 24 seats in Cloud Nine and 211 seats in Economy Class.

Ethiopian initially planned to launch the route in July 2013, on an Addis Ababa – Hong Kong – Manila routing, but shelved the plan before it took off. The airline then planned a second launch to Manila on an Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Manila routing from June 27, 2015, using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, before finally moving the launch date to July 9, 2015 using Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

Flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing the Ethiopian capital at 00:40am, arriving into Bangkok at 13:20pm. The new service will then depart again at 14:30pm, arriving into the capital of the Philippines at 19:00pm.

Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian said: “We are very happy to start this historic flight to the capital of Philippines. Manila will be our strategic point of access to the Southeast Asian neighbouring countries by availing excellent connectivity options.”

The return journey will depart Manila at 22:00pm, arriving into Bangkok at 00:25am the following day. Flight ET628 will then depart again at 01:30am, arriving back into Ethiopia at 06:25am.

“Our flights to Manila will also greatly contribute to the strengthening of trade, investment and tourism ties between the booming African continent and the highly developed, innovative and business-friendly states of Asia,” added Mr Gebremariam.

Manila is the economic and political capital of the Philippines and is home to extensive commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant landmarks in the country. Manila will also be the host city of Routes Asia 2016, which takes place from 6 – 8 March, and brings together a range of airlines, airports and tourism authorities, including some of the largest carriers from the whole Asian region.

The new Ethiopian route is timed to give the best possible connectivity options to passengers travelling between most points in Asia and Africa, and gives access to the industrial and manufacturing development zones of both continents.

Passengers from neighbouring countries such as Brunei and Taiwan will be able benefit from connections between all the major cities in Africa such as Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Luanda and Johannesburg with minimum layovers.

The new flight to Manila will bring the total number of international destinations operated by Ethiopian to 90.