
An analysis by Airbus, titled 'Exploring the Horizons: A Study of Unserved Air Routes to, from and within Sub-Saharan Africa,' indicates that Ethiopian Airlines is increasing its market share against Gulf and regional competitors on routes connecting African hubs to destinations like London and Dubai. The report, which examines African air connectivity and route performance over the past three years, identifies Ethiopian Airlines and its Addis Ababa hub as key drivers of growth. For example, Ethiopian Airlines launched non-stop flights from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to London Gatwick, successfully surpassing Emirates as the primary carrier for this market. Similarly, Ethiopian Airlines gained market share on routes linking Douala, Cameroon, to Dubai, capitalizing on geopolitical disruptions that affected Rwandair. While Ethiopian Airlines has captured a significant portion of economy passengers on the Harare-Dubai route, Emirates still dominates the premium market. Airbus's analysis also points to gaps in African air connectivity, such as routes from Lagos to Canada and Guangzhou, and opportunities for improved connections between East and West Africa. The report notes that only 10 routes currently have a minimum of three weekly flights, all originating or ending in Addis Ababa or Nairobi. In terms of cargo, Airbus suggests potential in flights connecting Brussels to Johannesburg, particularly for northbound cargo of perishable South African goods to the European
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
Must ReadEthiopia, hosting over 1.2 million refugees, launched the Makatet Roadmap on June 18, 2026, a new strategy for refugee management and integration. The roadmap, whose name means 'inclusivity' in Amharic, aims to reinforce national ownership and integrate refugees into existing structures. Developed over two years with various stakeholders, it is designed to guide integration efforts until the end of the decade. The strategy targets over 1.2 million refugees and 1.6 million host community members, promising greater infrastructure investment in areas like electrification, education, and health, along with integration into the national ID system, employment, and development priorities. This initiative builds on the 2019 Refugee Proclamation, which granted refugees rights to self-employment and wage employment, though full implementation has been a challenge. The roadmap's six strategic pillars include environmental protection, economic inclusion, protection, access to basic services, capacity development, and partnerships. Officials acknowledge risks such as insufficient resources, lack of coordination, and conflict, proposing solutions like joint resource mobilization and peacebuilding exercises. Targets include registering 800,000 refugees under the national ID program by 2028 and supporting 20,000 through livelihood interventions within two years. Speakers at the launch, including Tagesse Chafo, speaker of Parliament, and Dorothy Mataboge, AU commissioner for infrastructure an
Must ReadEthiopian officials have conceded that decades of state-led megaproject expansion have resulted in significant national debt and underutilized infrastructure. This has prompted a strategic shift towards a more commercially driven approach to public investment. Brook Taye, chief of Ethiopian Investment Holdings EIH, stated at the Ethiopia Delivers Summit that the government is now prioritizing projects based on economic viability and financing discipline. He cited the sugar sector as a prime example, where the Omo Kuraz sugar development alone absorbed over 65 billion Birr approximately 1.1 billion USD but remains unfinished, and the broader sugar industry carries an estimated 2.1 billion USD in external debt. The state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia is exposed to about 110 billion Birr in loans linked to state enterprises and large public projects. Taye also noted that 83 percent of the Kuraz I project is incomplete, requiring an additional 42 billion Birr for the Wolkayit Sugar Factory. He attributed these delays to leadership failures and poor strategic execution. Furthermore, Taye acknowledged that infrastructure expansion between 1991 and 2018 was sometimes driven by political rather than economic considerations, leading to "empty infrastructure" such as public universities without adequate staffing. He criticized the lack of commercial logic in projects like the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, which cost over five billion dollars, and regional airport expansions that la
Must ReadOn June 24, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission ENDC announced eight core thematic agenda pillars for its nationwide consultation conference, scheduled to begin in Addis Ababa on July 15. These pillars cover areas such as state-building, government structure, federal cities, peacebuilding, transitional justice, and human rights. The commission, which has gathered data from over 1,200 woredas over four years, describes the upcoming assembly as a historic opportunity to address Ethiopia's deep-rooted historical divisions and political polarization. However, the ENDC faces significant challenges regarding its political legitimacy, independence, and inclusivity. Critics, including opposition coalitions, civil society networks, and international observers, question the commission's autonomy, viewing it as closely tied to the federal government. Concerns also exist about political and geographic exclusion, particularly with ongoing conflicts in Oromia and Amhara regions, and stalled outreach in Tigray. Major opposition parties continue to boycott the process due to a restricted political environment. For the dialogue to achieve lasting consensus and national unity, the commission must demonstrate genuine independence and ensure all stakeholders, including armed actors and dissenting political factions, can participate without fear. The discussions on state-building and government structure are seen as a critical test for the commission's independent mandate, requiring it to