Ethiopian Airlines has launched its inaugural services to South America, marking the addition of the fifth continent to its global network. The carrier now operates flights between Addis Ababa (ADD) and the Brazilian cities of São Paulo (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) three times per week using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. These services transit via the airline’s second hub in Lomé, the capital of Togo.
The new Brazil routes strengthen Ethiopian Airlines’ global connectivity. According to CEO Tewolde Gebremariam, the expanded schedule enhances connections to major markets: 28 weekly flights to four destinations in China, 14 weekly flights to two large cities in India, daily services to Lebanon, five weekly flights to Tel Aviv, and nearly daily flights to 45 destinations across Africa. With the addition of Brazil, the airline now serves 75 destinations across five continents.
This expansion supports both passenger travel and cargo links between Africa and South America, offering new opportunities for tourism, business travel, and trade. Operating the Dreamliner on these routes provides passengers with modern cabin comforts and improved fuel efficiency, while the Lomé stopover allows Ethiopian to coordinate regional connections and streamline operations across its wide-reaching network.
Passengers traveling from various African and international points can now connect through Addis Ababa and Lomé to reach São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with competitive schedules. The move also underscores Ethiopian Airlines’ strategy to broaden its intercontinental reach and tap into emerging markets by leveraging its fleet and hub infrastructure.
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