Africa’s largest carrier is finally coming to Australia. In a press briefing in Addis Ababa on 15 February, Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Mesfin Tasew announced plans to launch thrice-weekly non-stop services to Perth, Sydney and Melbourne “no later than 2028,” once the airline’s next batch of ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-9s is delivered.
Today, passengers travelling between Australia and Africa face multi-stop itineraries through the Gulf or Asia, adding up to 10 hours to end-to-end journey times. A direct Addis Ababa–Perth sector would cut business-class travel time to around 15 hours and open a new one-stop gateway to 60 African destinations via Ethiopian’s Addis mega-hub. The Star Alliance member already serves 145 cities worldwide and sees strong two-way demand driven by Australia’s mining investments in East Africa and a growing African diaspora concentrated in Perth and Melbourne.
![Ethiopian Airlines Confirms Non-Stop Flights to Perth, Sydney and Melbourne by 2028]()
Whether you’re a mining executive hopping on the forthcoming Perth–Addis nonstop or a leisure traveller planning a safari connection beyond Ethiopia, sorting out visas will still be part of the pre-flight checklist. VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) streamlines applications for Ethiopia and more than 200 other countries, offering digital document upload, real-time tracking and dedicated corporate dashboards—making it easier for individuals and travel managers alike to capitalise on the new routes.
For Australian corporates, the announcement is a game-changer. Mining majors with operations in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania currently charter indirect routings via Dubai or Doha. A direct link slashes travel-risk exposure, lowers duty-of-care costs and positions Perth as a natural transfer point for New Zealand and Pacific travellers heading to Africa. Tourism Australia likewise expects fresh inbound traffic from high-spending African leisure travellers keen on long-haul adventure trips.
Before tickets go on sale, however, several hurdles remain: securing Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority approvals, negotiating airport slots, and finalising biosecurity protocols for direct flights from East Africa. Ethiopian also flagged premium-cabin upgrades, including Collins Aerospace Elevation suites on new A350s, to lure corporate accounts. Travel managers should pencil 2028 into their network forecasts and monitor bilateral air-services negotiations, which will determine final frequencies and traffic rights.
Today, passengers travelling between Australia and Africa face multi-stop itineraries through the Gulf or Asia, adding up to 10 hours to end-to-end journey times. A direct Addis Ababa–Perth sector would cut business-class travel time to around 15 hours and open a new one-stop gateway to 60 African destinations via Ethiopian’s Addis mega-hub. The Star Alliance member already serves 145 cities worldwide and sees strong two-way demand driven by Australia’s mining investments in East Africa and a growing African diaspora concentrated in Perth and Melbourne.
Whether you’re a mining executive hopping on the forthcoming Perth–Addis nonstop or a leisure traveller planning a safari connection beyond Ethiopia, sorting out visas will still be part of the pre-flight checklist. VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) streamlines applications for Ethiopia and more than 200 other countries, offering digital document upload, real-time tracking and dedicated corporate dashboards—making it easier for individuals and travel managers alike to capitalise on the new routes.
For Australian corporates, the announcement is a game-changer. Mining majors with operations in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania currently charter indirect routings via Dubai or Doha. A direct link slashes travel-risk exposure, lowers duty-of-care costs and positions Perth as a natural transfer point for New Zealand and Pacific travellers heading to Africa. Tourism Australia likewise expects fresh inbound traffic from high-spending African leisure travellers keen on long-haul adventure trips.
Before tickets go on sale, however, several hurdles remain: securing Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority approvals, negotiating airport slots, and finalising biosecurity protocols for direct flights from East Africa. Ethiopian also flagged premium-cabin upgrades, including Collins Aerospace Elevation suites on new A350s, to lure corporate accounts. Travel managers should pencil 2028 into their network forecasts and monitor bilateral air-services negotiations, which will determine final frequencies and traffic rights.
