Ethiopian Airlines flies to Houston, Athens
Ethiopian Airlines has begun to operate three weekly flights to Houston, Texas.
December 16, 2019: Ethiopian Airlines has begun to operate three weekly flights to Houston, Texas. The service will depart Addis Ababa on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Houston departures are on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Ethiopian’s service to Houston will operate from Addis Ababa via Lome in Togo with B787-8 aircraft.
Even Athens, Greece was added to its network today, which will operate three times a week, leaving Addis every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The aircraft used on this route is a B787.
Commenting on Houston service, the carrier’s group chief executive officer Tewolde GebreMariam said that the routes would allow passengers to fly nonstop on Ethiopian Airlines from Houston to Africa.
The space city of America, Houston and the majestic city of Greece, Athens have officially joined our network as of today.#Ethiopianairlines #newdestinations pic.twitter.com/ntQChpjGLy
— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) December 15, 2019
“Early in 2019, we announced that we were changing our services to the United States. Service to Los Angeles will terminate in favour of a new thrice-weekly service from Addis Ababa to Houston via Lome, Togo,” he said in a statement.
The Ethiopian Airlines chief said that the US was among Ethiopian Airlines’ most important markets, owing to the presence of a large African community and growing business and tourism ties with Africa.
“Our new route structure with additional frequencies to multiple gateways and the opening of a new route to Houston are aimed at responding to the market demand and availing best possible connectivity to over 60 African destinations.”
GebreMariam said Houston was chosen because Ethiopian Airlines does not face much competition from Houston to Africa. In fact, the airline will be the only carrier to offer flights from Houston to Africa.
Economically speaking, Houston is an oil and business hub. Thus, there is a significant potential for business connectivity that Ethiopian Airlines is trying to gain access to.
“However, instead of operating nonstop in the eastbound, Ethiopian Airlines can route via Lome and offer additional connections there through ASKY Airlines- with whom Ethiopian Airlines partners,” he said.
