Ethiopian Airlines to Connect Lyon with Addis Ababa and Beyond
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France – Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport announced on January 29, 2026, a significant expansion of its international network. Ethiopian Airlines, a prominent African carrier, will launch a new regular service connecting Addis Ababa, Geneva, and Lyon. This strategic new route, set to commence on July 2, 2026, will operate three times a week, enhancing Lyon’s connectivity to Africa and emerging markets.
Flight Details and Schedule
The new service will be operated using a state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900, known for its long-haul capabilities and comfortable bi-class cabin, featuring 30 ‘Cloud Nine’ business class seats and over 300 economy seats. The schedule is designed to facilitate long-haul connections, with arrivals and departures during night hours:
- Flight ET738: Departs Addis Ababa at 00:10, arrives in Geneva at 06:30, and then in Lyon at 08:15.
- Flight ET739 (return): Departs Lyon at 19:20, makes a stopover in Geneva from 20:05 to 21:05, and lands in Addis Ababa at 04:55 the following day.
The flights will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The Geneva-Lyon segment, a mere fifty nautical miles, will be one of the shortest A350-operated routes in Europe, showcasing the airline’s strategy to optimize its long-haul aircraft for its African hub.
Lyon: A New Gateway to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
This new route marks Lyon as Ethiopian Airlines’ third French destination, complementing existing services to Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Marseille-Provence. This expansion significantly strengthens Lyon-Saint-Exupéry’s position as a crucial entry point to over 65 African destinations, as well as to Asia and the Middle East, via Ethiopian Airlines’ Bole hub in Addis Ababa.
Passengers departing from Lyon will gain seamless access to major African cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa (Kenya), Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa), Antananarivo and Nosy Be (Madagascar), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar (Tanzania), Conakry (Guinea), Cotonou (Benin), and Windhoek (Namibia), all with a single stopover.
The Ethiopian hub also facilitates connections to Asian and Middle Eastern destinations, including India, China, and Southeast Asia. This enhanced connectivity is expected to bolster trade, tourism, and diasporic mobility for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, which boasts a robust network of exporting companies and industrial establishments.
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Bolsters its Long-Haul Offerings
With over 140 direct destinations and access to more than half of the world’s airports with a single stopover, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry already stands as a leading international platform among French regional airports. The arrival of Ethiopian Airlines fills a gap in the limited long-haul options to Africa from Lyon, which has historically relied on European hubs like Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. This development significantly enhances the airport’s appeal for both business and leisure travelers.
Cédric Fechter, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de Lyon, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The teams at Aéroports de Lyon are delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines to Lyon Airport.” He further highlighted the contribution of the VINCI Airports network, noting, “By leveraging the international power of VINCI Airports, Lyon Airport benefits from the development expertise of a global network, fostering the opening of new strategic international routes. Combined with the performance of the teams in Lyon, Lyon Airport is the leading French regional airport in terms of direct destinations.”
Ethiopian Airlines’ Strategic Expansion
For Ethiopian Airlines, Lyon becomes the third French stopover, following Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Marseille-Provence, which are already connected to the Addis Ababa hub. The airline, a member of Star Alliance and frequently recognized for its growth in Africa, continues to advance its “Vision 2035” plan. This ambitious strategy aims to establish Ethiopian Airlines as one of the top twenty global airline groups, supported by a modern fleet and a continuous expansion of its network.
Source: https://www.air-journal.fr/2026-01-29-a-lyon-saint-exupery-une-nouvelle-porte-dentree-vers-addis-abeba-grace-a-ethiopian-airlines-5272717.html
