Ethiopian Airlines Changes to Winter Service

Its Addis Ababa – Hong Kong – Seoul Incheon route will see a reduction from four to twice weekly and the airline’s Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Hong Kong operates once a week only for winter season, meaning that the overall service for Hong Kong reduces from four to three weekly.

Finally, the planned fifth weekly service from Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled, and Ethiopian will continue a four weekly operation with Boeing 767 aircraft.

The airline has seen a decrease in demand since the outbreak of the Ebola virus, and airports and airlines are having to take precautionary measures to ensure the disease doesn’t spread further.

Abta, however, insisted it had not seen an increase in holiday cancellations as a result of Ebola.

“The World Health Organisation is not recommending any travel restrictions as a result of the outbreak. Abta will continue to monitor the situation and advise members as appropriate,” said a spokesperson for Abta.

Most airports are equipped to deal with passengers entering the country, with facilities to test passengers for any signs of Ebola.

In African hubs such as Addis Ababa, passengers entering and leaving have to undergo temperature scans, and fill in questionnaires indicating places they have visited.

A spokesman for Ethiopian Airlines, which serves 49 destinations in Africa, said customers were more cautious in bookings, but that its planes were still full and there had been no cancellations.

Poppy Marello

Poppy joined the Routesonline team after successfully completing a degree in journalism at Sheffield Hallam University. Poppy has a passion for…