Ethiopian Airlines is preparing to receive its first Airbus A350-1000, with plans to introduce the aircraft on four tentative routes. The airline will be the first carrier in Africa to operate this model, which is expected to arrive in November. Ethiopian Airlines has ordered a total of four A350-1000 aircraft, each with a capacity of 395 seats, as recorded in the CAPA Fleet Database.
Initially, the airline had identified London Heathrow Airport as the first destination to receive A350-1000 services, aimed to commence in early November. However, the official entry date for the aircraft into service is still pending confirmation.
According to data from OAG Schedules Analyser, starting March 25, 2025, four routes will utilize the A350-1000 at the beginning of the summer season. These routes will be from Addis Ababa to Accra, Lagos, London Heathrow, and Washington Dulles, with a stop in Rome Fiumicino on westbound flights.
This planned launch of the A350-1000 coincides with the airline’s announcement of resuming flights to Monrovia, Liberia, starting in November, after a 14-year hiatus. Nonstop flights will operate between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and Monrovia Roberts International Airport, three times a week, utilizing 787-8 aircraft. This service will also connect to Conakry, Guinea. Consequently, Ethiopian Airlines will transition its existing one-stop service to Conakry, which currently operates via Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to Monrovia.
“Our resumption of flights to Monrovia highlights our commitment to connecting communities and promoting economic growth in West Africa,” stated Mesfin Tasew, group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.
Earlier this month, the airline inaugurated a new daily route between Addis Ababa and Port Sudan, marking its 66th destination within the African network.
