Ethiopian Enters into Codeshare Agreement with United Airlines

Press Release

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopian Airlines is pleased to announce that it has entered into a codeshare agreement with United Airlines, effective 30 August 2014.

Ethiopian, the biggest airline in Africa, currently flies to 82 international destinations across five continents operating a young and modern fleet, such as Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The carrier provides daily services to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) using the B777 or B787 aircraft with convenient and easy connections through its main hub in Addis Ababa (ADD) to 49 cities across Africa.

The new codeshare agreement between the two Star Alliance member airlines covers the Addis Ababa–Washington, D.C. trunk route, as well as points in Africa and the U.S. With this codeshare agreement, travelers between the U.S. and Africa will be able to enjoy unmatched and seamless connectivity options thanks to United’s strong network in the U.S. and Ethiopian’s unparalleled coverage of East, Central, Southern and Western African destinations.

The Addis Ababa–Washington trunk route will be operated as per the below schedule:

Marking the occasion, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: “We are very pleased to start codeshare flights with fellow Star Alliance member, United Airlines. This agreement will enable our two carriers to tap into new market opportunities and be competitive in the fast-growing Africa-US travel market. It will also give a wider choice of connectivity options to our customers travelling between Africa and the US.”

“United is pleased to join Ethiopian in providing new codeshare options for our mutual customers traveling between the U.S. and Africa,” said Jim Compton, United’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer. “In addition to nonstop flights between the U.S. and Ethiopian capitals, the new service will provide Ethiopian’s customers with convenient connections to destinations throughout the Americas from our Washington Dulles hub, and will offer United customers access to more destinations in Ethiopian’s extensive network.”

Ethiopian is a global Pan-African carrier currently serving 82 international destinations across five continents with over 200 daily flights and using the latest technology aircraft, such as the B777s and B787s.

About United Airlines

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 5,200 flights a day to 374 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. With hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft and, in 2014, will take delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 as the North American launch customer, and will welcome 32 new Embraer 175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 27 member airlines.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa. In 2014, IATA ranked Ethiopian as the largest airline in Africa in revenue and profit. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has been a pioneer of African aviation as an aircraft technology leader providing the first jet service in the continent in 1962, and availing the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010 and the first African and second only to Japan B787 Dreamliner in 2012.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 82 international destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units: Ethiopian International Passenger Service; Ethiopian Regional Service; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Service and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning, including SKYTRAX and Passenger Choice Awards in 2013 and has been registering an average growth of 25% per annum in the past seven years.

For more information about this press release, please contact:

Manager PR & Publications
Ethiopian Airlines
Tel: (251-1) 517-84-07

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