Ethiopian Airlines will open four new domestic airports within the next two months, accelerating efforts to deepen connectivity across underserved regions while positioning air transport as a driver of economic growth.
Chief Executive Mesfin Tasew said the airports, located in Negele Borena, Gore Mettu, Mizan Aman, and Debre Markos, are nearing completion and will increase the airline’s domestic destinations from 23 to 27.
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The expansion reflects a dual mandate: commercial growth and what the airline describes as a national obligation in a market where it remains the only provider of scheduled domestic flights. By financing much of the infrastructure itself, Ethiopian Airlines is stepping beyond its role as a carrier to fill gaps in the country’s transport system.
The locations of the new airports underscore a targeted economic logic. Negele Borena is positioned along key livestock and trade routes in the south, while Debre Markos serves a region anchored in agriculture and education. In the west and southwest, Gore Mettu and Mizan Aman are expected to improve access to high-altitude areas known for coffee production, where connectivity constraints have historically limited market access.
For Ethiopia, where road travel between regions can take days, air transport is increasingly seen as essential infrastructure rather than a premium service, enabling faster movement of people, goods, and services.
The airline is also reassessing its domestic fleet strategy. It currently relies on around 28 turboprop aircraft, primarily Q400s, but is studying the introduction of jet aircraft to gradually replace them. The shift is aimed at improving speed, passenger comfort, and capacity, reflecting rising demand and changing expectations in domestic travel.
This expansion forms part of the airline’s broader “Vision 2035” strategy, which aims to double domestic destinations over the next decade. Strengthening internal connectivity is emerging as a parallel priority to its well-established international network, with the airline effectively acting as both operator and infrastructure developer.
The domestic push comes as external pressures mount. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have disrupted international operations, forcing the airline to suspend flights to several destinations, including Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Airspace closures and supply disruptions have also driven jet fuel prices sharply higher, in some cases doubling, prompting the airline to rely on strategic reserves and seek alternative suppliers.
Although limited repatriation flights have resumed to destinations such as Sharjah and Dammam, broader uncertainty continues to weigh on passenger volumes and route stability.
Still, Mesfin Tasew said the disruptions, while significant, are manageable within the airline’s global network. The timing of the domestic expansion may offer a buffer, as strengthening internal routes could help stabilize revenues while reinforcing the airline’s role as a critical enabler of Ethiopia’s economic integration.
As global volatility reshapes aviation flows, Ethiopian Airlines is doubling down at home, betting that improved domestic connectivity will not only unlock regional economies but also anchor long-term resilience.
Source: Capital Ethiopia
