Ethiopian Airlines Flight Strengthens Southeast U.S. Ties with Nigeria

Ethiopian Airlines’ new nonstop flight between Atlanta and Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia and the African Union, is not only convenient for travelers but is also fostering stronger business and cultural ties between the Southeast U.S. and the African continent more broadly.

The flight is deepening connections with Nigeria, in particular, according to Solomon Mekonnen, the airline’s Traffic and Sales Manager, Southeast USA. 

The four-times-weekly nonstop route, which began in May 2023 with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on the inaugural flight, has been popular for business travelers and the Nigerian diaspora living in the Southeast, Mr. Mekonnen says.  

“Nigeria has never been closer,” he asserts, highlighting the convenience and affordability of travel from Atlanta to the more than 68 African destinations served by Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa.  

Nigeria, which has a population of more than 200 million people, is Ethiopian Airlines’ largest market for flights routing through Addis Ababa.

With connections from the Ethiopian capital to four major Nigerian cities – Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu – Africa’s largest and most reputable carrier is facilitating seamless travel and collaboration with these markets. 

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and the economic hub of West Africa, has solid business connections with Atlanta in various industries, including technology, finance and entertainment. The Georgia Institute of Technology has relationships with four Nigerian universities. As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria offers opportunities for potential partnerships in oil, technology and e-commerce. 

With Ethiopian Airlines’ new route, entrepreneurs, investors and professionals from both regions can more easily meet face-to-face, fueling economic growth and innovation, Mr. Mekonnen suggests.  

Cultural connections between Atlanta and Nigeria are also strong and have flourished since the establishment of the Atlanta-Lagos Sister City relationship in 1974. The Consulate General of Nigeria in Atlanta, one of only two in the U.S., covers 17 states and Puerto Rico. It serves more than 20,000 Nigerian residents comprising the fifth-largest Nigerian diaspora in the United States and one of the largest African expat communities in the Southeast. 

Last year, Atlanta hosted the 16^th celebration of The Headies (originally known as the Hip Hop World Awards), an event recognizing Nigerian music and musicians. This year, Atlanta celebrated “Nigerian Day” at the State Capitol on March 21 to honor Ambassador Amina Smaila, Nigeria’s consul general in Atlanta, for her work raising awareness about her home country, including “Nollywood,” the world’s third-largest film industry.

Ms. Smaila’s tenure as consul general in Atlanta is ending, but the office is expected to continue the work of expanding trade and investment, as well as cultural synergies, between the Southeast and Nigeria. The new Ethiopian Airlines flight could facilitate these and other Southeast–Africa ties, Mr. Mekonnen says. 

For travelers utilizing the Atlanta–Addis Ababa route, Ethiopian Airlines offers stopover vacations in the African capital.

Travelers can take day trips to visit museums, including the Paleoanthropology Laboratories of the National Museum of Ethiopia where the skeleton of “Lucy,” the first known homonid, is on display. A stopover could also include the tomb of Emperor Menelik II who is known for defeating Italian aggressors to defend Ethiopian independence, or an excursion to Mount Entoto, the highest peak overlooking Addis Ababa. 

As a member of the Star Alliance network, Ethiopian Airlines offers connections to more than 68 African cities and more than 136 destinations worldwide. 

Visit https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/us for flight information or https://www.ethiopianholidays.com/ for stopover packages.