LONDON – Ethiopian Airlines has today announced that it will add new flights into Switzerland with service to the capital, Zurich.

Beginning on October 31st, the carrier will operate the service on a thrice-weekly basis using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The carrier already operates services into Switzerland, with its Geneva flights already in full swing. This service will be expanded to four times per week by the end of October.

Commenting on the new route was CEO Mesfin Tasew:

“We are glad to open a new route connecting the financial capital of Switzerland, Zürich, with over 130 destinations of Ethiopian Airlines via Africa’s political capital, Addis Ababa.”

“The new flight will expand our presence in Switzerland and Europe at large and provide enhanced air connectivity between Switzerland and Ethiopia.”

“The new service will also facilitate diplomatic and socioeconomic relations not only between Ethiopia and Switzerland but also between Africa and Europe.”

“As a pan-African carrier, we are committed to further expanding our global network and connecting Africa with the rest of the world better than ever before.”

The 787 & Ethiopian…

The airline’s relationship with the 787 has been quite a strong one with Boeing, and it is not surprising at all that the main thrust of their long-haul network is using this aircraft.

Earlier this month, the airline celebrated 10 years since the delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner back in 2012.

To celebrate this, Boeing unveiled an exhibition design for educational exhibits in the mobility hall of the Ethiopian Science Museum

Commenting on this milestone was Mesfin Tasew, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines:

“We are glad to mark a decade since we ushered in the first 787 Dreamliner into Africa, building on our pioneering role in African aviation”.

“The 787 has been instrumental in expanding our long and medium-haul flights and redefining on-board comfort for our passenger’s thanks to its advanced technology and remarkable cabin features.”

Also commenting was Omar Arekat, the VP of Sales & Marketing in the Middle East & Africa for Boeing Commercial Airplanes:

“The incredible versatility of the 787 Dreamliner has played a vital role in helping Ethiopian Airlines become Africa’s largest airline”.

“For more than 75 years, we have partnered with Ethiopian to help them build a great airline using the world’s most modern, efficient, comfortable, and sustainable products, including the 787.”

Since the first delivery of the 787 took place in 2011, more than 80 carriers around the world have used the Dreamliner, serving more than 1,900 routes and carrying nearly 700 million passengers on more than 3.3 million flights.

Ethiopian was the first airline on the continent to take delivery of the 787 and operates a combined fleet of 27 787-8s and 787-9s that play quite a role in their international business.

Overall…

It remains clear that Ethiopian’s long-haul strategy is slowly growing, and with the arsenal of aircraft they have at the moment, we will no doubt continue to see this grow as the years go on.

Looking ahead, it’s going to be interesting to see what the demand will be like for such services in Zurich, especially with the already well-established Geneva route.

Either way, it does appear that Switzerland is proving to be a lucrative market for the carrier, and we will no doubt see a continuation of expansion in this region in the near future too.