Ethiopian Airlines is returning to Durban after a nine-year absence, with the African carrier set to resume daily flights between King Shaka International Airport and Addis Ababa from December.
The service will begin on 11 December 2026, reconnecting Durban directly with Ethiopian Airlines’ main hub after the airline suspended the route in 2017. The carrier previously launched the route in 2015, making Durban its third destination in South Africa at the time.
Flights will operate daily using a Boeing 737 MAX. Flight ET889 will depart Addis Ababa at 08:35 and arrive in Durban at 13:25, while the return ET888 will leave King Shaka at 14:15 and arrive in Addis Ababa at 21:00.
The return of Ethiopian will give Durban a second direct international air link, alongside Emirates’ daily service to Dubai. The route will also make Ethiopian the third destination it serves in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town. Ethiopian first began flying to Johannesburg in 1993, before adding Cape Town in 2015.
Connecting Durban with Africa and Beyond
For passengers in KwaZulu-Natal, the importance of the route extends beyond Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Airlines’ hub in the Ethiopian capital provides connections to more than 130 destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. This will allow passengers travelling from Durban to connect onwards without first having to travel through Johannesburg or Cape Town. This crucial gateway services as a stop to many travellers departing on international journeys, eliminating the need for a connection through Johannesburg or Cape Town.
The route is also expected to support tourism and business links between KwaZulu-Natal and international markets. The eThekwini Municipality has welcomed the service, saying that improved direct international connectivity could support tourism, trade and investment in the region.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the airline sees potential to strengthen trade, tourism and business links between South Africa and its global network through Addis Ababa. The return comes as King Shaka continues to rebuild its international connectivity. ACSA recorded 5.6 million passengers at the airport during the 2025/26 financial year, representing around 92% of its pre-pandemic passenger traffic.
For Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s best-ranked airline, the Durban service marks its return to a versatile market it previously left after seasonal demand pressures. This time, however, the airline will launch the route with a daily schedule, compared with the three-times-weekly service it operated when the route first launched in 2015.