Ethiopian Airlines announces codeshare deal with China Southern after new Addis route opens

Ethiopian Airlines and China Southern Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement, Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement issued on 14 October, Xinhua reported. A codeshare lets each carrier sell seats on flights operated by the other.

The agreement aims to deepen cooperation between the two carriers on direct services between China and Ethiopia, as well as in wider regional air markets, the statement said. Fana Media Corporation, an Ethiopian media group, reported the deal on 14 October and described it as a further step in cooperation between the airlines that extends travel options for passengers seeking onward connections.

The announcement came a day after China Southern marked the start of its Guangzhou–Changsha–Addis Ababa service at a launch event in the Ethiopian capital on 13 October. Xinhua reported that the first passenger flight reached Addis Ababa on 12 October with more than 200 passengers from China. The route runs twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

China Southern's website lists the outbound flight as CZ8095 and the return as CZ8096. Between 12 and 24 October, the Guangzhou–Changsha leg is scheduled for 10:10 to 11:35 and the Changsha–Addis Ababa leg for 13:50 to 20:00. From 25 October the times change to 08:30 to 09:50 and 12:20 to 20:00.

On the return, CZ8096 is scheduled to leave Addis Ababa at 23:00 and reach Changsha at 15:10 the next day, then continue to Guangzhou, leaving at 17:10 and arriving at 18:45 the same day. From 25 October the Changsha arrival moves to 14:20 and the Changsha–Guangzhou leg to 16:20 to 17:50, again arriving on the day after the Addis Ababa departure. The airline says the times are subject to the final schedule and its sales system, and lists fares of up to 20 per cent off for travel between 12 October and 12 November.

The aviation data and news site ch-aviation reported on 31 July that the route would use a Boeing 787-9 and that Ethiopian Airlines was already flying non-stop between Guangzhou and Addis Ababa between one and three times a day.

Zeng Yongchao, executive vice president of China Southern Air Holding Company, said at the launch that the route will create business opportunities, make it easier for people and goods to move, and connect China and Africa, according to Xinhua. Yohannes Abera, director general of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, said the route links Addis Ababa directly with two of China's most dynamic provinces.

Xinhua describes Ethiopian Airlines as the largest airline in Africa. In the same 31 July report, ch-aviation said Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was then China Southern's only African destination.