Ethiopian Airlines will commence scheduled passenger flights to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from December 1, 2026, expanding its presence in one of Africa’s largest aviation markets and strengthening air links between West Africa and its global network through Addis Ababa.
The new service will make Port Harcourt the airline’s fifth destination in Nigeria, joining Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu. The airline said the route will operate four times a week — Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Flights will be operated using Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Flight ET945 will depart Addis Ababa at 9:30am and arrive in Port Harcourt at 12:25pm. The return flight will leave Port Harcourt at 1:10pm and arrive in Addis Ababa at 8:30pm.
The expansion is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ wider strategy to strengthen its African network and connect major economic centres across the continent to destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas through its Addis Ababa hub.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew said the new service reflects the airline’s continued expansion in Nigeria.
“We are pleased to further strengthen our presence in Nigeria with the addition of Port Harcourt, our fifth destination in the country,” he said.
He said the route would support Nigeria’s economic activity by improving connections for travellers and businesses.
He added; “Our continued expansion in Nigeria reflects our commitment to supporting the country’s economic development through enhanced air connectivity.”
According to the airline, the new service is expected to make travel easier for passengers while strengthening trade, tourism and business links between Nigeria, the rest of Africa and international markets.
Port Harcourt is one of Nigeria’s major commercial and industrial centres and serves as an important gateway to the country’s energy sector.
The city is the capital of Rivers State and has long been closely associated with Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Its location in the Niger Delta has made it an important centre for petroleum-related businesses, industrial activity and services.
Ethiopian Airlines said the new route will provide passengers with connections to its wider international network while facilitating trade, tourism, investment and cultural exchanges.
The direct link to Addis Ababa also gives passengers travelling from the Port Harcourt region access to Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive network through its main hub.
Ethiopian Airlines has maintained a long relationship with Nigeria.
The airline said it launched its first service to Nigeria in 1960, making the country one of its longest-served markets in Africa.
Over the decades, Nigeria has become an important part of Ethiopian Airlines’ West African network as the carrier has expanded its presence across the continent.
The addition of Port Harcourt comes as the airline continues to develop a network connecting African cities through Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates to more than 160 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents, according to the company.
The Port Harcourt route is also part of Ethiopian Airlines’ broader Pan-African expansion.
The airline operates additional hubs and partnerships in Africa, including through ASKY in Lomé, Togo; Malawi Airlines in Lilongwe; Zambia Airways in Lusaka; and Air Congo in Kinshasa.
The strategy allows Ethiopian Airlines to use Addis Ababa as a major connecting point while developing additional regional hubs across the continent.
For Port Harcourt, the new service will provide another international aviation connection for a city whose economy is closely linked to Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
The first scheduled flight is expected on December 1, 2026, marking the latest expansion of Ethiopian Airlines’ network in Nigeria and adding another link between West Africa and the carrier’s growing global network.