Ethiopian Airlines will launch scheduled passenger flights between Addis Ababa and Port Harcourt on 1 December 2026, adding a new international connection for travellers in Nigeria’s South-South region.

The airline announced the route on 17 September, saying it will operate four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Port Harcourt will become Ethiopian Airlines’ fifth destination in Nigeria, joining Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu.

Four weekly flights from December

According to the airline’s published schedule, the Addis Ababa service is planned to depart at 09:30 and arrive in Port Harcourt at 12:25. The return service is scheduled to leave Port Harcourt at 13:10 and reach Addis Ababa at 20:30.

Ethiopian Airlines lists the Boeing 737 MAX 8, identified in the timetable by its 7M8 subfleet code, for the new route. Travellers should still confirm operating times and aircraft when booking, because airline schedules can change before launch.

Port Harcourt becomes Ethiopian Airlines’ fifth Nigerian city

The expansion is significant because it gives Port Harcourt a new direct link to one of Africa’s largest international aviation hubs. Ethiopian Airlines uses Addis Ababa as the centre of a network connecting destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.

That means the route is not only aimed at passengers travelling between Nigeria and Ethiopia. It is also designed to provide onward connections for business travellers, tourists and other passengers beginning their journeys in Port Harcourt.

Ethiopian Airlines Group chief executive Mesfin Tasew said the carrier was strengthening its presence in Nigeria with the addition of Port Harcourt and described improved connectivity as part of the airline’s wider support for trade, tourism and economic links.

What the route means for travellers in southern Nigeria

For passengers based in Rivers State and neighbouring areas, the service could reduce the need to travel first to Lagos or Abuja to access some international connections through Addis Ababa.

Port Harcourt is a major commercial centre serving Nigeria’s oil and gas industry as well as a wider regional economy. A direct link to Addis Ababa could therefore appeal particularly to business travellers and passengers connecting onward through Ethiopian Airlines’ African and intercontinental network.

The route also adds another international option at Port Harcourt International Airport at a time when airlines across Africa are selectively adding services that connect major regional business centres with continental hubs.

Nigeria remains an important market for Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines has served Nigeria for decades and already operates services to several of the country’s largest cities. The Port Harcourt launch extends that footprint further south while giving the airline access to a catchment area that includes Rivers State and surrounding parts of the Niger Delta.

For the airline, the new service also supports its hub strategy in Addis Ababa: passengers from Port Harcourt can be fed into onward flights, while travellers from other regions can connect through Ethiopia into southern Nigeria.

What passengers should check before booking

The airline says the route will begin on 1 December 2026 and operate four days each week. Passengers planning travel around the launch period should confirm the final schedule directly with Ethiopian Airlines before making non-refundable arrangements, particularly because departure times and aircraft assignments can change as the start date approaches.

Travellers connecting in Addis Ababa should also check baggage allowances, minimum connection times, visa or transit requirements where applicable, and the entry rules for their final destination.

With the launch, Port Harcourt will join Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu in Ethiopian Airlines’ Nigerian passenger network, giving the carrier a broader presence in one of Africa’s largest aviation markets.