African airline Ethiopian Airlines intends to expand its winter schedule by adding a new route from London Gatwick (LGW), London’s second-largest airport. Gatwick will offer passengers more travel options across Africa and beyond, starting in November 2023, along with its existing routes to London Heathrow and Manchester.
Direct Flights to London’s Gatwick Airport
Starting in November 2023, Ethiopian Airlines will offer three weekly flights to London Gatwick (LGW) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. All times mentioned are in local time. The flight schedule is as follows: ET718 from Addis Ababa to Gatwick departs at 00:15 and arrives at 05:15 (8 hours), while ET719 from Gatwick to Addis Ababa departs at 10:10 and arrives at 20:40 (7 hours and 30 minutes).
This strategic move by Ethiopian Airlines will bring numerous benefits to travellers between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom. With the addition of this new route, passengers will enjoy seamless connections to various destinations across Africa, including popular business and tourism spots. This new service perfectly complements the airline’s daily non-stop A350 flights from Heathrow Airport to Addis Ababa and its five-times-weekly A350 flights from Manchester Airport to Addis Ababa.
New Route UK Connectivity With London Gatwick Flights
Including Ethiopian Airlines in its UK network enhances the bonds between Africa and the UK, contributes to economic growth, and solidifies Ethiopian Airlines’ position as a significant player in the aviation industry. The carrier faces tough competition from other regional airlines for its Lagos connection, ranking fourth after Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Rwanda Airlines. Nevertheless, with the additional service at Gatwick this winter, Ethiopian Airlines is expected to attract more passengers. The introduction of flights at London Gatwick further reinforces the airline’s commitment to connecting Africa with the global community.
The route will be served by an Airbus A350 aircraft, featuring a two-class configuration of economy and business. Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, stated:
“We have a 50-year relation with UK. We give high regards to our Heathrow services and now we are excited to add Gatwick to our vast global network. We are ready to stretch our reach to Gatwick and provide our renowned, award-winning services. History has it that we last served Gatwick in 2005 and 2006 using the Boeing 757. Now the route will be served by the most modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft.”
Ethiopian Airlines has added the second sub-Saharan African route from Gatwick, with Air Mauritius set to replace it at Heathrow on October 30th. Nevertheless, the airline will maintain operations at London and Manchester airports. The airline continuously expands its network to cater to growing customer demands, establishing itself as an industry leader. With its commitment to exceptional service, modern fleet, and extensive route network, Ethiopian Airlines has earned passengers’ trust, positioning itself as one of Africa’s most reputable carriers. By introducing flights to London Gatwick, Ethiopian Airlines aims to serve business and leisure travellers between Africa and the UK.
How do you feel about this new route? Have you ever travelled with Ethiopian Airlines? Let us know in the comments!
