Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its operations in Nigeria to 53 weekly flights, adding Port Harcourt to its passenger network while increasing frequencies from Lagos and Kano in a move that will deepen connectivity between Nigeria’s major commercial centres and the airline’s Addis Ababa hub.
The new Port Harcourt service, scheduled to commence on December 1, 2026, will operate four times weekly between Port Harcourt International Airport and Addis Ababa. Flights will run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with tickets already available for booking.
Port Harcourt becomes the fifth Nigerian destination on Ethiopian Airlines’ passenger network, joining Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu.
The airline will increase its Lagos operations to 21 weekly flights, offering as many as three services daily, while Kano will rise to 11 weekly flights following the addition of four frequencies.
Firiehiwot Mekonnen, general manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, said the expansion reflected the airline’s confidence in Nigeria’s aviation market and the broader economic potential of the country.
“Nigeria remains a very important market for Ethiopian Airlines. By increasing our frequencies and adding Port Harcourt, we are giving passengers more flexibility, seat availability, better connectivity and access to more attractive and competitive fares,” Mekonnen said.
The Port Harcourt route is expected to particularly benefit travellers in Nigeria’s South-South region, allowing them to begin international journeys from the region rather than first travelling to Lagos or Abuja to connect to an international flight.
Through Addis Ababa, passengers from Port Harcourt will gain access to Ethiopian Airlines’ wider international network, spanning destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Mekonnen said the additional capacity would extend beyond passenger convenience, with the expansion expected to support activity across Nigeria’s tourism, trade, investment and employment sectors.
“Every additional flight creates economic activity, which means more business for Nigerian ground handling companies, airports, travel agencies, hotels, transport providers, catering, and other local service providers, while also creating direct and indirect employment opportunities,” she said.
The airline said the extended connectivity would facilitate not only outbound travel by Nigerians but also the movement of international visitors into Nigeria.
With the new Port Harcourt service and increased frequencies in Lagos and Kano, Ethiopian Airlines will operate 53 weekly flights to Nigeria, reinforcing its presence in some of the country’s key commercial centres.
The expanded schedule also gives passengers across different parts of Nigeria more options for connecting through Addis Ababa, strengthening the country’s links to Ethiopian Airlines’ global network at a time when reliable international air connectivity remains critical to commerce, tourism and investment.
The move further positions Nigeria as an important market within Ethiopian Airlines’ African network, with the carrier using additional capacity to respond to passenger demand while broadening access to international destinations from within Nigeria.
