Aéroports de Lyon welcomes Ethiopian Airlines’ inaugural flight between Addis Abeba and Lyon
A new milestone in Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport’s international expansion, with the arrival of Ethiopian Airlines, the airport’s 43rd airline.
Easier access to East Africa, with 26 new destinations now accessible from Lyon via the Addis Abeba hub.
A catalyst for growth in the economy, tourism and regional freight transport, strengthening ties between the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the African continent.
Lyon, 2 July 2026 – Aéroports de Lyon and Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, celebrated the arrival of the inaugural flight connecting Addis Abeba to Lyon-Saint Exupéry. This new route, which is operated three times a week, marks another significant milestone in the airport’s international development and strengthens links between the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, East Africa and the African continent as a whole. The launch of this new route forms part of VINCI Airports’ development strategy, which aims to strengthen the international connectivity of its airports. With 140 direct destinations and 79% of its traffic being international, Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport has reaffirmed its position as France’s leading regional airport in terms of the number of direct destinations.
Passengers departing from Lyon now have easier access to one of the most efficient networks on the African continent via the Addis Ababa hub. In particular, this new route opens up access to 26 destinations previously not served from Lyon, including the Seychelles, Namibia and Madagascar.
As well as passenger transport, this new route also opens up new opportunities for air freight. Already France’s leading regional airport for freight, having handled 54,000 tonnes in 2025, Lyon-Saint Exupéry will be able to draw on the cargo capacity in the holds of Ethiopian Airlines’ aircraft to support trade development with East Africa.
For Cédric Fechter, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de Lyon: “ Led by VINCI Airports, we are continuing our strategy of expanding into high-potential markets. The arrival of Ethiopian Airlines in Lyon marks an important milestone in the international development of our airport and is a major catalyst for growth in tourism and economic ties between the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and Africa. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the airline for trusting us. A leading airline, a member of Star Alliance and repeatedly voted Africa’s best airline, Ethiopian Airlines enhances the appeal and international profile of our region.”
Timetable for the Lyon–Addis Ababa route operated by Ethiopian Airlines
| Frequency | Departure | Time | Arrival | Time | Aircraft |
| Tuesday,Thursday, Saturday | Addis Abeba | 00:10 | Geneva | 06:30 | Airbus A350 |
| Tuesday,Thursday, Saturday | Geneva | 07:30 | Lyon | 08:15 | Airbus A350 |
| Tuesday,Thursday, Saturday | Lyon | 19:20 | Geneva | 20:05 | Airbus A350 |
| Tuesday,Thursday, Saturday | Geneva | 21:05 | Addis Abeba | 04:55 | Airbus A350 |
The Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is a true African success story, having turned a visionary dream into a globally recognised reality over the past eight decades. Operating flights to more than 160 domestic and international destinations across five continents, carrying both passengers and cargo, Ethiopian Airlines connects Africa with the rest of the world. With a focus on passenger comfort and environmental protection, Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of state-of-the-art aircraft, including the Boeing 737, 777 and 787, the Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000, and the De Havilland Q400. As a member of Star Alliance, Ethiopian Airlines has won many prestigious awards, including the Skytrax award for ‘Best Airline in Africa’ for eight consecutive years, the APEX award for ‘Best Airline in Africa’ and the ‘Leadership in Connecting Africa through Transport’ award. Ethiopian Airlines aims to build on its success through its strategic plan dubbed ‘Vision 2035’ and to rank among the world’s 20 most competitive and top-performing airline groups. In keeping with a pan-African ethos, Ethiopian Airlines is implementing a multi-hub strategy with transfer hubs in Lomé (Togo) in partnership with ASKY, in Lilongwe (Malawi) with Malawi Airlines, in Lusaka (Zambia) with Zambia Airways, and in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) with Air Congo.
For further information, please visit our website www.ethiopianairlines.com
