Ethiopian Airlines has marked a major milestone in Cape Town with the arrival of its own Airbus A350-1000. This is the airline’s newest and most advanced aircraft. It made its first-ever flight to the Mother City this week. It’s the first time that an African business (company, entity) owns this particular aircraft, which can seat up to 440 passengers.
Ethiopian Airlines has marked a major milestone in Cape Town
Ethiopian Airlines has marked a major milestone in Cape TownSpeaking at the welcoming ceremony, Ethiopian Airlines’ Traffic and Sales Manager for Cape Town, Hannah Atnafu Makonnen, described the moment as a celebration of innovation, sustainability and confidence in the Cape Town market. The aircraft, delivered to Ethiopian Airlines in early 2025, represents the largest and most technologically advanced aircraft in the airline’s fleet to operate on the Cape Town route.
Ethiopian Airlines, founded in 1946, has grown into Africa’s largest and leading carrier, transporting around 19 million passengers annually and moving more than 785 000 tonnes of cargo. Today, the airline operates a fleet of over 116 aircraft, with more than 100 additional aircraft on order, serving 145 international destinations and 23 domestic routes within Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Airlines celebrates historic Airbus A350-1000 arrival and expansion in Cape Town
The airline is a key member of Star Alliance and employs more than 20 000 people directly, with thousands more working through partner operations. Its long-term vision is ambitious: by 2035, Ethiopian Airlines aims to operate 271 aircraft, serve over 200 international destinations and carry more than 60 million passengers annually.
Cape Town has played an important role in that journey. Ethiopian Airlines began operating to the city in 2015 with three weekly Boeing 737 flights. Today, it operates 11 wide-body flights per week between Addis Ababa and Cape Town, with plans to increase frequencies to double-daily services from the end of March, subject to final operational readiness.
Cape Town has played an important role in that journey
According to Makonnen, the expansion will significantly boost tourism, trade and business travel between Cape Town and the rest of the world. Ethiopian Airlines currently connects Cape Town to more than 66 destinations across Africa, as well as major cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. It uses Addis Ababa as a highly efficient hub with some of the shortest connection times globally.
Cargo growth is also firmly on the agenda. While current operations rely mainly on belly cargo capacity, Ethiopian Airlines has expressed a strong interest in introducing dedicated cargo freighters to Cape Town as trade volumes continue to grow.
A standout addition – the Airbus A350-1000
The Airbus A350-1000 itself is a standout addition. The aircraft can carry up to 440 passengers, featuring 46 business class seats and 395 economy class seats, alongside state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment, modern lighting systems and enhanced fuel efficiency. Designed for long-haul comfort, it is typically deployed on premium global routes.
Makonnen also highlighted Ethiopian Airlines’ resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the airline converted passenger aircraft into cargo carriers to transport essential medical supplies across continents, while retaining all staff and maintaining profitability.
Ethiopian Airlines is investing heavily in infrastructure
Looking ahead, Ethiopian Airlines is investing heavily in infrastructure, including the construction of a new mega international airport in Ethiopia, capable of handling up to 110 million passengers annually once fully completed — one of the largest aviation projects globally.
The celebration included a ceremonial water salute for the aircraft, a cake-cutting ceremony, and an opportunity for guests to view the aircraft up close, marking the start of a new chapter in Ethiopian Airlines’ expanding presence in Cape Town.
