Ethiopian Airlines has unveiled a major addition to its European network with the launch of four weekly Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights connecting Addis Ababa to Porto, Portugal, via Madrid. This strategic route aims to bridge a long-standing air travel gap between sub-Saharan Africa and northern Portugal while offering passengers and businesses expanded access across the Iberian Peninsula.
As Africa’s most globally connected airline, Ethiopian Airlines continues to diversify its European services, adding secondary cities with high commercial value, strong diaspora ties, and growing demand for direct air connections to the African continent. The addition of Porto—Portugal’s second-largest city—solidifies the carrier’s commitment to improving connectivity, boosting trade, and enhancing tourism flows between Europe and Africa.
Expanding Horizons: A Strategic Leap into Northern Portugal
Porto, known for its rich cultural heritage and robust industrial base, now joins Lisbon as the second Portuguese city served by Ethiopian Airlines. This launch marks a crucial development for travelers in northern Portugal and northwestern Spain, especially those with ties to Lusophone African nations like Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau.
Historically, travelers between Porto and Africa faced multiple connections, often transiting through Lisbon or major European hubs like Paris or Frankfurt. With this new route, Ethiopian Airlines offers passengers a more direct and convenient alternative via its Addis Ababa hub—Bole International Airport—providing onward access to more than 60 African destinations.
Flight Details and Passenger Experience
The new route is operated with the fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering passengers enhanced comfort, quieter cabins, and improved air quality. The flight operates four times weekly—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays—with the following schedule:
- Flight ET712 (Outbound): Departs Addis Ababa at 01:35 local time, lands in Madrid at 07:55, departs at 09:10, and arrives in Porto at 10:00.
- Flight ET713 (Inbound): Departs Porto at 21:10 and arrives in Addis Ababa at 06:00 the next day as a non-stop return service.
Passengers benefit from smooth transit through Madrid and enhanced onboard amenities, making the route attractive to business travelers, tourists, and the large African diaspora in Portugal and Spain.
Cargo Opportunities: Strengthening Trade Corridors
Beyond passenger services, the Porto route offers significant cargo capacity, supporting the export of northern Portugal’s industrial and agricultural products. Porto is a hub for textiles, automotive components, wine, and seafood—products in demand across African markets.
Each Dreamliner can carry 28 to 36 LD3 containers or up to 11 pallets in its belly hold, enabling faster delivery of goods between Europe and Africa. The new service is also expected to strengthen Ethiopia’s own exports to Europe, particularly in perishables like flowers, coffee, and fresh produce.
Porto’s logistics infrastructure, anchored by Leixões Port and strong road and rail connections, positions the city as a valuable airfreight gateway. Ethiopian Airlines may explore dedicated freighter services in the future, further integrating Porto into its global cargo network.
Unlocking New Travel Corridors Across the Iberian Peninsula
The airline’s decision to expand into secondary European cities like Porto reflects a broader shift in its route strategy—focusing on underutilized markets with high potential for growth. Previous expansions into Geneva, Manchester, and now Porto show Ethiopian’s intent to reach communities often overlooked by traditional carriers.
This route also appeals to travelers in Galicia and northern Spain, who now have faster access to Addis Ababa and onward African connections without needing to travel south to Lisbon or Madrid for long-haul departures.
Serving the Lusophone Diaspora and West Africa
Portugal is home to a large and growing African diaspora, particularly from Lusophone nations. The new flights provide these communities in Porto and surrounding regions with more accessible travel options to visit family, conduct business, or return for holidays.
Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines’ expansive African network makes it easy to connect travelers from West African cities like Accra, Lagos, Abidjan, and Dakar to Europe via Addis Ababa and Porto. This opens new intercontinental corridors for both business and leisure travelers.
Supporting Ethiopia’s Role as Africa’s Aviation Hub
Ethiopian Airlines continues to reinforce its status as a leader in African aviation by connecting major and emerging cities around the world to its Addis Ababa hub. Bole International Airport remains one of Africa’s busiest transit points, offering streamlined connections to Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
The Porto route supports the airline’s Vision 2035 strategy, which includes expanding its fleet, entering underserved markets, and promoting Addis Ababa as a premier gateway for intercontinental traffic.
Future Outlook and Growth Potential
Ethiopian Airlines will closely monitor the performance of the Porto route over the coming months. If passenger and cargo demand prove strong, an increase in flight frequencies—or even direct service upgrades—may follow.
In a competitive aviation landscape, Ethiopian continues to deliver value through connectivity, reliability, and innovation, positioning itself as the airline of choice for travelers moving between Africa and the rest of the world.
With its new Porto-Madrid route, Ethiopian Airlines reinforces its mission to bridge continents through world-class service and far-reaching connectivity.
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