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Chinedu Eze
Nigerian route for international air travel is highly competed for because it is recognised as one of the largest markets in Africa, recording consistent passenger movement every year.
According to allafrica.com, Nigeria is considered to have the highest number of indigenous or native born citizens travelling to international destinations in Africa. It is said that about 99% of passengers traveling from Nigeria on international routes are Nigerian citizens, rather than foreign tourists or expatriates, making it a unique and high-volume market for outbound, indigenous travel.
This was confirmed by Ethiopian Airlines Area Manager, Nigeria, Firiehiwot Mekonnen, who described the Nigerian route as a strong market, saying that the East African carrier has a large chunk of that market because of the competitive edge it has over other airlines.
It has to be noted that British Airways has operated 90 years in Nigeria (including its predecessor, Imperial Airways); Air France, 80 years; KLM, 75 years; while Lufthansa has operated 60 years, but Ethiopian Airlines, the only Africa carrier that has operated longest in Nigeria, 65 years, has remained tops in terms of airlifting passengers and cargo from Nigeria.
Mekonnen, who spoke to journalists recently when Ethiopian Airlines marked its 80th anniversary in Lagos, said the secret of the airline’s success is its state-of-the-art equipment and its in-flight service.
She said that Ethiopian represents the image of Africa and has striven to ensure that it carries that image with success and dignity. She expressed gratitude to the airline’s customers, saying that their feedback is very important to the African carrier.
“As you said, Ethiopian has been the face of aviation in Africa and you know it is because of the resilience, the management and then the entire team of dedicated airline’s staff.
“So, when it comes to the competition, all the products that we are using; our aircraft are modern aircraft, new aircraft, and the on-board customer service is excellent. And in fact, most of the feedback that we get is not even about the price or anything, but the aircraft types and the on-board experience; their transit experience is the best and that makes them choose Ethiopian airlines. So, when it comes to price, we are all competitive. Now, the competition or the advantage that we are getting is on the product type and on customer experience that we have,” she said.
The area manager said that the airline’s operation in Nigeria has grown over the years, adding more destinations and airlifting more Nigerians to different parts of the world.
“The operations in Nigeria have grown. Nigeria is a big market. As I have mentioned in my speech, Nigeria or Lagos or Abuja is not just a destination. We value the partnership we have with Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as citizens. So, as it has been mentioned on so many occasions and even today, Ethiopian Airlines has been here through thick and thin in numerous circumstances where other airlines have not been around. Yes, the operation in Nigeria has grown.
“Since last July, 2025, we have increased our frequency from 24 weekly flights to 38 weekly flights. That’s for passengers. And we have more than 50, up to 60 cargo flights weekly in and out of Nigeria. So, the operation is really big; something that we look at and something that we take very seriously. And then Nigeria has been treating me personally and as an airline very well. You don’t mess with Nigerians because every Nigerian believe that this airline is also their own; not only Ethiopians,” Mekonnen said.
On challenges, she said that Nigeria as a market does not have any peculiar challenge than you can get elsewhere, noting that besides infrastructure limitation, every other thing is going on well.
“Well, for example, sometimes infrastructure wise. Now, we don’t have any repatriation issues, we don’t have any currency issues, so we don’t have that much of a challenge. It’s a place where we believe that we can grow more together with the partners, the stakeholders, our passengers, and, of course, with the media,” she said.
Talking about what international carriers are facing due to the Iran war, Mekonnen said that the impact is affecting the whole world; so, it is a global issue.
“It is not only for Africa or for the Middle East, it is a global issue. Both in terms of fuel supply and also passengers being inconvenienced, being stuck or stranded in one country, not able to go back to their country, that is also something. So as Ethiopian Airlines, as much as possible, as we always do, we try to be there for our passengers. So, whenever the airspace is open, we try to be there so that we can relieve evacuation flights, depending on the situation. But we put safety first,” she said.
She also confirmed the support Ethiopian Airlines gave the Gulf carriers that came to it at the beginning of the Iran war, when many Gulf states were forced to shut down their airspace due to missile attacks from Iran. Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Rwand Air helped the Gulf carriers to move some passengers, which shows the collaborative effort of the African carriers with their Gulf counterparts.
Ethiopian Airlines, especially, records upsurge of passengers, as the biggest operator in Africa with modern equipment and inimitable in-flight service.
Asked whether the airline has been recording passenger upsurge she said, “Yes, we do have. But to those destinations where airspace is closed, of course we cannot operate. But to other destinations, definitely passengers have come. But the thing is, it is not a destination where we are not uplifting passengers. It’s just additional numbers from those airlines. But European Airlines is now covering more than 150 destinations and we have diversified our market. So, we no more say this is our major market, this is our major market. Of course, Africa is our major market. Apart from that, we cover all destinations in the world. Those passengers who are supposed to fly from other carriers, of course, they came to us.”
She also said that with the way Ethiopian operations in Nigeria is growing, there is indication that it would continue to request for more frequencies.
“We are even planning to do so. So majorly, maybe some few additional flights to Lagos, but this is something pending. Since we have not applied for slots or the permits, it is not something official right now. But definitely, as I mentioned, Nigeria is a place where we think that we can grow more with additional flights with multiple frequencies, it is an additional option more flexible before our passengers,” she said.
in the area of cargo, she said that Ethiopian is leading in terms of cargo and also in passenger throughput because there is no international carrier that covers Nigeria that connects Nigeria to the rest of the world in terms of frequency and passenger approach that Ethiopian Airlines.
