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Ethiopian Airlines to add three Chinese cities
April 12th 2019
Shenzhen will finally receive its first passenger flight from an airline outside of Asia. Read More »
Ethiopian Airlines plans to expand in mainland China with new service to Chongqing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou. The airline also plans to add frequencies to Guangzhou and Shanghai, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told Xinhua.
Shenzhen is notable as the city has been seeking intercontinental passenger airlines. Regional Asian airlines fly to the city while Chinese airlines fly long-haul from Shenzhen. But no foreign long-haul airline serves the city. It is understood Shenzhen has been offering subsidies more lucrative than is usual from Chinese airports seeking service. Shenzhen sees a foreign-flagged long-haul flight as raising the airport’s profile.
Ethiopian Airlines already serves four mainland Chinese cities as well as Hong Kong. The mainland cities are Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Ethiopian had served Hangzhou but removed the service when it was able to add frequency to Shanghai. Gebremariam in late 2017 said the airline could return to Hangzhou.
Chongqing service will supplement existing flights to Chengdu. Qatar Airways also serves both Chengdu and Chongqing, two large cities approximately 300 kilometres apart. High-speed trains link the city in as little as 73 minutes.
Ethiopian has leveraged its stability and geography to be a hub for Africa, in particular the Asia-Africa market. Gebremariam also said the airline has started visa services so Chinese throughout the country can attain necessary visas without having to liaise with Beijing, where most African embassies are. Expanded US visa processing offices helped boost outbound China demand earlier this decade.
Ethiopian also has dedicated freight services to Hong Kong and Shanghai. Belly freight will be important for the new services, and Ethiopian will serve China’s new cargo centres, the so-called Three Cs: Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhengzhou (IATA code CGO). Excess luggage is also important for the large staple of small traders bringing goods from China to Africa.
