Noi Bai International Airport Welcomes Ethiopian Airlines’ New Route Connecting Hanoi With
Hanoi, 11 July 2025 – This afternoon, in a festive and dignified atmosphere, Noi Bai International Airport officially welcomed Ethiopian Airlines’ inaugural flight, launching the new direct route connecting Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event marks a historic milestone: the first nonstop air link between Vietnam and Africa—a region rich in potential and opportunity.
Flight ET0678 touched down safely at Noi Bai International Airport at 13:15. As the aircraft taxied to its stand, a ceremonial water-cannon salute greeted the arrival.
The inauguration ceremony was held at Terminal 2, Noi Bai International Airport, before a large gathering of distinguished guests. A highlight of the event was the ribbon-cutting, performed by H.E. Dessie Dalake, Ambassador of Ethiopia; Mr. Lemma Yadecha, Chief Commercial Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group; Ms. Nguyễn Phương Trà, Director General of the Department of Middle East and Africa; and Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, Deputy Director of Noi Bai International Airport, together with other key partners. Immediately afterward, the guests cut a celebratory cake and popped champagne amid enthusiastic applause, officially launching this promising new connection.
In her address, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân warmly welcomed Ethiopian Airlines, noting that the new route not only shortens travel time significantly but also opens a strategic corridor between Southeast Asia and Africa, greatly fostering cultural exchanges and economic-trade cooperation. She expressed pride that both organizations have been honored by Skytrax—Ethiopian Airlines as “Best Airline in Africa” and Noi Bai International Airport among the “Top 100 Airports in the World.” These accolades, she said, clearly demonstrate Noi Bai’s growing stature and underscore its commitment to elevating service quality and becoming a leading aviation hub in Southeast Asia.
Ethiopian Airlines will operate the route four times weekly with its modern wide-body Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet. Linking Hanoi with Addis Ababa—home to the African Union headquarters—will not only ease travel to Ethiopia but also provide seamless connections to the airline’s extensive network across Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
The successful inauguration signals the robust growth and increasing appeal of Noi Bai International Airport, which currently serves about 40,000 international passengers daily. The new Hanoi–Addis Ababa service is more than a link between two capitals; it is a bridge between Southeast Asia and over 50 African nations. By diversifying route networks and boosting competiveness, this connection positions Hanoi as a key trans-continental gateway in the region.