ADDIS ABABA

Ethiopian Airlines received the Fastest-Growing Airline (Africa) honor at the Athens International Airport 2026 Awards, marking another major recognition for the carrier as it continues to expand its presence between Africa and Europe.

The recognition highlights Ethiopian Airlines’ continued dominance in African aviation as the carrier accelerates expansion, grows passenger capacity and strengthens its role linking Africa with major international markets.

“This achievement reflects Ethiopian Airlines’ unwavering commitment to connecting Africa with the rest of the world,” the airline said in a social media post on Tuesday.

The award in Athens follows the airline’s win at the 2026 APEX Best Airline in Africa Award on May 4, based on verified feedback from more than one million passengers across 600 airlines worldwide.

Ethiopian Airlines has also secured the Skytrax Best Airline in Africa title for eight consecutive years, alongside APEX honors for Best Overall in Africa and Leadership in Connecting Africa through Transport.

The carrier operated 2 million seats in May 2026, a 7.3 % increase compared to the previous year, adding 136,600 seats to its network.

Its fleet includes Boeing 787s, Airbus A350‑1000s and De Havilland Q400s, deployed under a pan‑African multi‑hub strategy.

Operating flights to more than 160 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents, Ethiopian bridges the gaps between Africa and the world.

Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the airline continues to advance its ambitious Vision 2035 strategy to expand global reach.

The carrier’s expanding network contributes to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by facilitating the movement of people and goods across borders, strengthening intra‑African trade and positioning Ethiopia as a key gateway to the continent.