Ethiopian Airlines Launches Flights to Mauritius, Making the Island Nation Its 41st African Country Destination

#EBR_News Jul 11, 2026

Betegbar Yaregal

Ethiopian Airlines held an inaugural ceremony at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa on Saturday evening to mark the launch of direct passenger services between Addis Ababa and Port Louis, Mauritius, with the first flight set to depart on July 12, 2026.

Mauritius becomes Ethiopian Airlines’ 41st country destination in Africa, with the airline operating a three-weekly service on the route, according to speeches delivered at the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, said the new service will create seamless connectivity between Mauritius, mainland Africa, and destinations around the world through the airline’s global network of more than 125 destinations.

He added that Mauritius becomes the airline’s 41st destination country in Africa, while Zanzibar becomes its 62nd city on the continent, underscoring the carrier’s continued expansion across African markets.

“By connecting Mauritius to more than 125 destinations across our global network, Ethiopian Airlines will enhance global connectivity, strengthen bilateral relations and create new opportunities for economic and social cooperation,” Mesfin said. He added that the service will facilitate trade, investment, and tourism, and promote Mauritius as a destination for African travellers.

Indrarjeet Bambooa, Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius to Ethiopia, noted at the ceremony that the inaugural flight carries particular historical significance coming exactly 50 years after Ethiopian Airlines first landed in Mauritius in July 1976 during the 13th Organisation of African Unity Summit held on the island. “Exactly 50 years later, we will be traveling to Mauritius tomorrow on the inaugural flight, a historical moment,” Bambooa said.

He said the commencement of direct flights between Addis Ababa and Port Louis represents a strategic investment in connectivity expected to generate lasting benefits for both countries, including greater people-to-people contact, enhanced tourism in both directions, and stronger business and investment ties.

Hadera Abera, a representative of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs who spoke at the ceremony, said the new air link is “far more than the launch of a flight” and described it as the opening of a new bridge connecting the two nations, their peoples, and their economies.

Hadera said the route would facilitate business partnerships, promote educational and cultural exchanges, and provide Mauritius with seamless access to destinations across Africa and beyond through Addis Ababa. “Ethiopian Airlines has long served as a symbol of African excellence, connecting the continent with the rest of the world,” Hadera said, adding that Mauritius becoming part of the growing network brings the two countries closer than ever before.

The route represents a breakthrough for Ethiopian Airlines, which had reportedly sought access to the Mauritian market for more than a decade amid concerns about protecting national carrier Air Mauritius, which has been undergoing restructuring.

The launch also comes ahead of the 18th US-Africa Business Summit, scheduled to take place in Mauritius from July 26 to 29, 2026, an event expected to attract government officials, investors, and business leaders from across Africa and beyond.

Both countries are members of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Bambooa noted at the ceremony that the new connection is expected to contribute to the broader objectives of African integration and regional economic cooperation as envisioned under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

#EthiopianAirlines #Mauritius #AfricaAviation #AfricanConnectivity