Ethiopian Gives Northern Mozambique Its Own Door to the World

Ethiopian Airlines began flying between Addis Ababa and Nacala, in northern Mozambique, on October 27. Flight ET875 operates three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using a Boeing 737 MAX 8. The outbound service stops in Blantyre, Malawi, while the return is reported as nonstop.

The launch slipped from an original July target to October. Mozambican President Daniel Chapo pushed for the route during an April visit to Ethiopia and announced the start date on October 20. He wants Nacala to become an industrial, logistics and energy hub, and says travelers in the north will no longer have to route through Maputo or Johannesburg to reach international flights.

That last point is the practical heart of the story. Northern Mozambique has natural harbors, beaches and national parks, but long travel times have limited access. A connection into Ethiopian’s Addis Ababa hub opens one-stop routes to Europe, Asia and the rest of Africa, and may encourage investors and tourists who previously faced long domestic detours.

Ethiopian is offering 15 percent off Economy and Cloud Nine business fares, bookable until October 31 for travel between October 27 and November 30. Passenger numbers, typical fares and load factors have not yet been published, so the real test will be whether demand holds after the launch discount ends. Check the Blantyre stop and visa rules before booking.

Sources: The Rio Times, Ethiopian Airlines