Ethiopian to start flights to Lyon and to expand services to Bahrain and Cape Town
Ethiopian Airlines will continue its expansion in France in 2026 with the launch of a new route to Lyon, featuring a brief transit in Geneva.
The Ethiopian flag carrier, widely regarded as the only true hub airline in sub-Saharan Africa, will operate three weekly flights from Lyon to Addis Ababa via Geneva starting July 2, 2026.
Addis Ababa: Africa’s Only Hub Rivaling the Gulf
Flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in both directions. Departures from Addis Ababa are scheduled at 12:10 a.m., arriving in Lyon at 8:15 a.m. after a one-hour stop in Geneva. The return flight will leave Lyon at 7:20 p.m., landing in Addis Ababa at 4:55 a.m. the following day. The route will be served by an Airbus A350.
At Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, passengers will have access to onward connections to more than 65 destinations across Africa, reinforcing the Ethiopian capital’s position as the continent’s leading aviation hub and the only one capable of competing with major Gulf airports.
After Paris Charles de Gaulle and Marseille, Lyon will consequently become the airline’s third destination in France.
“The French market has long been a key one for Ethiopian Airlines,” said Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group. “We are delighted to strengthen our presence in France by adding Lyon to our extensive global network. With more than fifty years of experience connecting France, Africa, and the rest of the world, we remain committed to enhancing our services to and from France and the Rhône-Alpes region, supporting trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.”
Ethiopian Airlines will help strengthening the intercontinental network from France’s second largest metropolis. Despite being the second largest industrial and economic center in France, Lyon airport has a limited number of intercontinental flights: Addis Ababa, Cabo Verde, Cairo and Dakar in Africa, Montreal in North America as well as Dubai and Jeddah in the Middle East. Unfortunately, Qatar Airways suspended its daily flight to Doha in 2025.
Beyond its French expansion, Ethiopian Airlines is also reinforcing its African and Middle Eastern network. The carrier has announced additional frequencies on the Addis Ababa–Bahrain and Addis Ababa–Cape Town routes, responding to growing demand for both business and leisure travel. The carrier will upgrade Addis-Cape Town from 11 to 14 weekly services in April and adds a fourth weekly frequency to Bahrain from the end of June.
Related News Stories: Ethiopian Airlines expands its Airbus fleet with new A350 order SalamAir posts third quarter on time performance easyJet launches onboard summer collection to support UNICEF's ... Partner News - TravelMole
newadmin
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements