In a major show of commitment to its Nigerian operations, Ethiopian Airlines has launched a second daily flight from Lagos, marking a significant milestone in its 65-year partnership with Nigeria.
The inaugural second daily flight departed Lagos with a full load — 147 passengers in Economy and 8 in Business Class — while the arriving flight from Addis Ababa carried 114 Economy and 1 Business Class passenger.
Speaking at the launch event, Mrs. Firiehiwot Mekonnen, Area Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, expressed gratitude to key aviation stakeholders present, including the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Director General of NCAA, the MD/CEO of FAAN, and representatives from Customs, Immigration, and other airport services.
“Ethiopian Airlines has stood by Nigeria through every challenge and triumph since 1960,” Mekonnen said.
“Even during the closure of Abuja Airport, we remained the only international carrier flying into Kaduna to support passengers. This second flight is a continuation of that unwavering commitment.”
She highlighted the airline’s achievements in the continent, noting that ET was the first African airline to introduce the B787 Dreamliner, A350, and now the A350-1000 in Africa — with Nigeria as a priority destination.
With 31 weekly flights now available from four major Nigerian cities — Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Enugu — passengers can now access seamless connections to 66 African destinations and 150 global cities within just 12 hours, eliminating long layovers.
Mekonnen also emphasized Ethiopian Airlines’ growing involvement in Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry, with upcoming plans to support events like Detty December, Calabar Carnival, Ojude Oba, and Durbar Festival.
The Area Manager expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and all stakeholders, especially travel agencies, the media, and the airport community, for their ongoing support.
She also thanked Ethiopian Airlines’ loyal passengers and the hard-working Nigerian ET team — particularly the Lagos team — for making the launch of the second frequency a resounding success.
