Business News | Addis Ababa | 28 October 2026
Ethiopian Airlines launched scheduled passenger flights to Nacala, the port city in Mozambique’s northern Nampula province, on 27 October 2026. Nacala is the airline’s third destination in Mozambique after Maputo and Beira, and the route is the first of three new or restored African services the carrier is opening before the end of 2026: Port Harcourt in Nigeria follows on 1 December and Durban in South Africa on 11 December, according to the airline’s press releases.
The Nacala launch
The inaugural flight left Addis Ababa Bole International Airport after a launch ceremony attended by government officials, stakeholders and airline executives, Ethiopian Airlines said in a release dated 27 October. The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that guests included Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, Director General of African Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mozambique’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nuno Tomás.
The service runs three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Under the schedule the airline published on 16 September, flight ET 875 leaves Addis Ababa at 09:20, stops in Blantyre, Malawi, and reaches Nacala at 14:20, then returns to Addis Ababa the same day. Mozambique’s news agency AIM reported that the first flight landed at Nacala International Airport at 14:25 after its stop in Blantyre.
“Today, we are delighted to welcome Nacala, one of Mozambique’s key tourism destinations, to our extensive global network,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said in the release. “This new service further strengthens our footprint in Mozambique, making Nacala the third destination in the country served by Ethiopian Airlines.”
Reta Melaku, the group’s Chief Operating Officer, said at the launch that the new route is part of the airline’s wider aim of bringing African countries closer together, ENA reported. Ambassador Zerihun said the route would elevate bilateral relations and recalled talks between the leaders of the two countries on the sidelines of the Tana High-Level Forum, according to ENA.
What Mozambican officials expect
In Nacala, Nampula Provincial Governor Eduardo Abdula described the new connection as a sign of confidence in Mozambique’s economic potential and pointed to the city’s location and port infrastructure as assets for regional trade, AIM reported. Irina Ribeiro, Permanent Secretary of Mozambique’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics, said the service could help the Nacala Special Economic Zone by making business travel easier. AIM noted that the size of the economic benefit will depend on the region’s ability to attract visitors and business, and that Abdula urged Mozambican businesspeople and tourism operators to use the route, arguing that steady demand could support more frequencies.
Port Harcourt and Durban in December
Ethiopian Airlines said on 17 September that it will start flights to Port Harcourt on 1 December 2026, four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays as flight ET 945. Port Harcourt will be its fifth destination in Nigeria after Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu. The airline said Nigeria is one of its longest served markets, with its first flights to the country dating to 1960.
On 29 September the airline announced that daily flights to Durban will resume on 11 December 2026. Durban will be its third South African destination after Johannesburg and Cape Town, where the airline began flying in 1993 and 2015, according to the release.
Selling the network through travel agencies
Separately, Ethiopian Airlines said on 16 October that its fares and services are now live on the AirGateway platform through its NDC (New Distribution Capability) content. Travel agencies, travel management companies and consolidators can now search, book, pay for and change Ethiopian Airlines tickets, including seat selection and other extras, within the same booking tools, according to the release. “Enhancing our digital capabilities across our services is one of our key strategic priorities,” said Meaza Taye, the group’s Distribution and Global Corporate Sales Director.
Cargo fleet
The passenger expansion follows a cargo deal announced on 30 September, when Ethiopian Airlines said it had signed an agreement with Boeing for eight Boeing 777-8 Freighters and two Boeing 777 Freighters. The airline said it currently operates twelve 777 Freighters, two 767 Freighters and four 737-8 freighters, flying dedicated cargo services to more than 70 cargo destinations. Brad McMullen, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said in the same release that Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to order the 777-8 Freighter.
Why it matters
Ethiopian Airlines says it serves more than 65 destinations in Africa through its Addis Ababa hub. Each new African route adds another direct air link between Addis Ababa and a regional business center, which matters for Ethiopian exporters, importers and business travellers who trade with those markets. The airline and local officials linked the new services to Nacala’s port and special economic zone, Port Harcourt’s role as a gateway to Nigeria’s energy sector, and business, tourism and trade links with South Africa.
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Sources
- Ethiopian Airlines, “Ethiopian Airlines Launches a New Passenger Service to Nacala, Mozambique”, 27 October 2026: corporate.ethiopianairlines.com
- Ethiopian Airlines, “Ethiopian Airlines to Expand its Presence in Mozambique with a New Passenger Service to Nacala”, 16 September 2026 (schedule): corporate.ethiopianairlines.com
- Ethiopian News Agency, “Ethiopian Airlines Expands African Network with Thrice-Weekly Flights to Mozambique’s Nacala”, 27 October 2026: ena.et
- AIM (Mozambique News Agency), “Ethiopian Airlines launches direct flight to Nacala”, 28 October 2026: aimnews.org
- Ethiopian Airlines, “Ethiopian Airlines to Commence Scheduled Passenger Flights to Port Harcourt, Nigeria”, 17 September 2026: corporate.ethiopianairlines.com
- Ethiopian Airlines, “Ethiopian Airlines set to Resume Flights to Durban, South Africa”, 29 September 2026: corporate.ethiopianairlines.com
- Ethiopian Airlines, “Ethiopian Airlines Strengthens Global NDC Connectivity Through AirGateway”, 16 October 2026: corporate.ethiopianairlines.com
- Ethiopian Airlines, “Ethiopian Airlines Signs Agreement with Boeing for 777-8F and 777F Freighters to Expand Cargo Fleet”, 30 September 2026: corporate.ethiopianairlines.com
Last updated: 28 October 2026.
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Featured image: Ethiopian Airlines staff and guests at the ceremony for the inaugural flight to Nacala, Mozambique, at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on 27 October 2026. Photo: Ethiopian Airlines (press release image), cropped.