Ethiopian Airlines Flight Booking: Book ET Tickets and Reservations Online

Overview

Ethiopian Airlines is the largest carrier in Africa by passengers, destinations, fleet and revenue, and for travellers leaving Kenya it is often the most practical way to reach the rest of the world. Operating under the IATA code ET, it has flown since 1946 and now serves more than 150 passenger destinations across five continents from its hub at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

That hub is why the airline matters so much from Nairobi. Addis Ababa is roughly two hours away, and the timetable is built so that arrivals feed a wide bank of onward departures. A traveller leaving Nairobi can be connecting to Europe, Asia, North America or almost anywhere in Africa within a few hours, often on routes no other single carrier offers from Kenya.

Travelwings Kenya handles Ethiopian Airlines booking across that network. This page covers the fleet and cabins, where the airline flies, the baggage rules, what drives fares and how to complete your Ethiopian Airlines reservation without surprises at the airport.

IATA code: ET  ·  Hub: Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa  ·  Alliance: Star Alliance  ·  Loyalty programme: ShebaMiles  ·  Cabins: Economy, Cloud Nine business

Why Book an Ethiopian Airline Flight from Kenya?

The case for flying ET out of Nairobi rests on network reach rather than on price alone, though the fares are frequently competitive too.

• The widest African network: more destinations across the continent than any other carrier, including the only daily east to west service across Africa, which makes West African cities reachable without backtracking through Europe.
• A short first sector: Addis Ababa is about two hours from Nairobi, so the connecting leg costs you far less time than routing through the Gulf.
• Star Alliance membership: the airline joined in 2011, which extends its reach through partner carriers and allows miles to be earned and redeemed across the wider alliance.
• A modern fleet: around 170 aircraft including Airbus A350s, Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 777s on long-haul, which is among the younger fleets operating from Africa.
• Depth into Asia: frequencies to China, India and South East Asia through Addis Ababa exceed what is available on a direct basis from Kenya.
• Cargo strength: a substantial freighter operation, which matters to Kenyan businesses moving goods alongside people.

The airline is wholly state-owned and has expanded through sustained investment rather than acquisition, pursuing a multi-hub strategy with stakes in carriers in Togo, Malawi, Zambia and elsewhere. That is why its network across Africa is denser than its size alone would suggest.

What Are the Cabin Classes on Board?

Two cabins operate across the network, and the product varies considerably between the long-haul wide-body aircraft and the regional fleet.

Economy Class

The standard cabin on every route, from the short Nairobi to Addis Ababa sector through to long-haul services to North America. Fares include a seat, checked baggage on most routes, meals and beverages on sectors long enough to carry a service, and seat-back entertainment on the wide-body aircraft. Economy is sold in several fare families, and the difference between the cheapest and the next tier is generally flexibility rather than anything you notice on board.

Cloud Nine Business Class

The Ethiopian Airlines business cabin, branded Cloud Nine. On the long-haul A350, 787 and 777 fleet this means a lie-flat or near-flat seat, dedicated check-in, priority baggage, a full meal service and access to the Cloud Nine Lounge at Addis Ababa. On shorter regional sectors the seat is a recliner rather than a flat bed, with the benefits concentrated on the ground: faster check-in, lounge access and a larger baggage allowance.

Where Does the Airline Fly from Nairobi?

Everything routes through Addis Ababa, and from there the network divides into five broad tiers.

Swipe to see the full table

Routes, frequencies and aircraft change by season. Confirm the current schedule for your dates before booking.

What Does an ET Airline Fare Include?

Inclusions

• ✅ A confirmed seat with a seat assignment on most fare types
• ✅ Hand baggage, with one accessory item such as a laptop bag
• ✅ Checked baggage on most routes and fare families
• ✅ Meals and beverages on sectors long enough to carry a service
• ✅ Seat-back entertainment on wide-body aircraft
• ✅ Airport taxes and carrier charges, shown in the fare before you pay
• ✅ ShebaMiles where you are a member and have added your number

Exclusions

• ❌ Preferred seat selection, which usually carries a fee
• ❌ Excess, overweight or oversized baggage
• ❌ Change and cancellation charges on restricted fares
• ❌ Special items such as sporting equipment, which need advance arrangement
• ❌ Visas, travel insurance and airport transfers

What Is the Baggage Allowance?

Allowances depend on your cabin, your route and your fare family rather than on any single published figure. As a general pattern, Economy carries one or two checked pieces depending on the region, with a standard weight limit per piece, while Cloud Nine carries a larger allowance both in pieces and in weight. Hand baggage is one cabin bag plus a personal item in Economy, with a more generous allowance in the business cabin.

Three points are worth knowing before you pack. Allowances are counted by piece as well as by weight, so splitting the same total across differently weighted bags does not always satisfy a piece-based allowance. Flights sold under an ET flight number but operated by a partner airline may carry different rules. And loyalty tier can add to your allowance, which is worth checking if you are a ShebaMiles member. Confirm the exact allowance shown on your booking before you travel.

How Do You Complete an Ethiopian Airlines Ticket Booking on Travelwings?

• Enter your route and dates: use the search panel above, setting your departure city, destination, dates and the number of travellers.
• Compare the results: fares show the total payable including taxes, alongside the timings, the connection at Addis Ababa and the cabin.
• Check the connection time: a short layover moves you through quickly but leaves little margin, while a long one may suit an overnight arrival better.
• Choose your fare family: the cheapest option is usually the most restricted, so read the change and baggage terms before deciding.
• Enter passenger details: names must match the passport exactly, as corrections after ticketing can carry a fee.
• Add your ShebaMiles number: miles cannot always be credited retrospectively, so add it at the time of booking.
• Pay and receive your e-ticket: confirmation is issued electronically and the booking reference is what you need at check-in.

What Affects the Price of an ET Ticket?

Fares move constantly, so a figure quoted today may not hold next week. What stays stable is what drives it.

• How far ahead you book: airlines release seats in fare buckets and the cheapest sell first, so the same flight genuinely costs more as it fills.
• Season: December, August and Kenyan school holidays carry a clear premium, as do the peak periods in your destination market.
• Connection length: itineraries with a longer layover at Addis Ababa are often priced below the quickest connection on the same day.
• Cabin and fare family: the gap between the cheapest Economy fare and a flexible one on the same flight can be substantial, and Cloud Nine sits in a different bracket again.
• Route competition: destinations also served nonstop from Nairobi tend to price more keenly than those reachable only via a hub.
• Baggage needs: a lower headline fare with a restricted allowance can cost more overall than a higher fare that includes the bag you were going to check.

Run your dates through the search above for a live figure rather than relying on a published average.

What Check-In Options Are Available?

Online check-in generally opens well before departure and is the quickest way through Jomo Kenyatta International, where queues build around the evening bank of departures. You can select or confirm your seat and obtain a mobile boarding pass, then go straight to bag drop if you are checking luggage.

Airport desks remain available and are necessary where documents must be verified in person, which applies on several long-haul routes. Cloud Nine passengers use dedicated desks. On connecting itineraries you are usually checked through to your final destination from Nairobi, but confirm this at check-in rather than assuming it, particularly if your onward flight is operated by a partner airline.

How Does the ShebaMiles Programme Work?

ShebaMiles is the Ethiopian Airlines loyalty programme. Members earn miles on the airline's own flights and, subject to the terms of each partnership, on Star Alliance carriers, with elite tiers unlocking benefits such as lounge access, priority boarding and additional baggage.

Miles can be redeemed against award tickets and upgrades, and the programme has long-standing partnerships beyond the alliance, including with hotels and other travel providers. As with most programmes, miles are normally credited at the time of booking or travel rather than retrospectively, so add your membership number when you book. If you already hold status with another Star Alliance carrier, it is worth checking what recognition applies before you travel, since reciprocity varies by benefit.

What Is the Onboard Experience Like?

The experience varies more by aircraft than by route. On the A350, 787 and 777 fleet used for long-haul, expect seat-back entertainment, a full meal service and the quieter cabin those aircraft types are known for. Regional services on narrow-body jets and turboprops are simpler, with a snack or light meal depending on the sector length.

Catering reflects a mix of Ethiopian and international cooking, and traditional Ethiopian options are usually available on longer flights. Special meals can be requested in advance, which is worth doing at the time of booking. Cabin crew work in English and Amharic as standard.

Which Other Airlines Should You Compare from Kenya?

ET is rarely the only option on a given route, and on some corridors another carrier will be better timed or cheaper.

Kenya Airways is the obvious comparison, since it operates from Nairobi as its own hub rather than routing you through a second country. For destinations it serves nonstop, that removes a connection entirely and usually shortens the journey by several hours, and its domestic network across Kenya can be ticketed together with the international leg so a delayed first flight is the airline's responsibility rather than yours. It is a SkyTeam member with its own Asante Rewards programme. Fares, cabins and network detail are on our Kenya Airways flight booking page.

RwandAir routes through Kigali, which is a little over an hour from Nairobi and therefore an even shorter first sector than Addis Ababa. Its network is smaller but it has grown steadily across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and on West African routes in particular a Kigali connection frequently undercuts the alternatives. The airline is not part of any alliance, so miles do not transfer, but its cash fares are often the point. Details are on our RwandAir flight booking page.

Air Arabia takes a different approach, operating as a low-cost carrier from Sharjah with unbundled fares: you pay for the seat and add baggage, meals and seat selection separately. For travellers heading to the United Arab Emirates with hand baggage only, that can produce a materially lower total than a full-service fare, though adding a checked bag narrows the gap considerably. See our Air Arabia flight booking page.

Whichever carrier suits your route, check current promotions before booking, since a discounted fare on one airline regularly undercuts the standard price on another for the same dates. Our cheap flight deals from Kenya page brings together live offers across airlines and routes.

How Do You Contact Travelwings Kenya?

To book by phone or ask about an existing reservation, call +971 4 556 1000 or email kenya.care@travelwings.com. The team can compare fare families, check connection times at Addis Ababa, explain baggage rules for your specific routing, handle group bookings and advise on travel documentation for your destination.

Disclaimer: Fares, routes, schedules, cabin products, baggage allowances and loyalty terms are set by the airline and change without notice. Baggage figures are indicative and vary by fare family, route, aircraft and loyalty tier; flights operated by a partner airline may differ. Visas depend on your nationality and are not included. Confirm current details before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ethiopian Airlines Flight Booking

1. How do I make an Ethiopian Airlines booking on Travelwings?

Enter your route, dates and passenger numbers in the search panel above, compare the fares returned, check the connection time at Addis Ababa, select your cabin and fare family, enter passenger details exactly as they appear on the passport, and pay to receive your e-ticket.

2. Is Ethiopian Airways the same as Ethiopian Airlines?

Yes. Ethiopian Airways and Ethiopian Air Line are common variations of the name. The airline is Ethiopian Airlines, operating under the IATA code ET as the flag carrier of Ethiopia.

3. Which alliance does the airline belong to?

Star Alliance, which it joined in 2011. That extends its network through partner carriers and allows miles to be earned and redeemed more widely.

4. Where is the hub and how long is the connection from Nairobi?

Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, roughly two hours from Nairobi. Connection times vary by itinerary, so check the layover shown on your booking.

5. What are the cabin classes?

Economy and Cloud Nine business class. On long-haul wide-body aircraft Cloud Nine offers a lie-flat or near-flat seat and lounge access; on shorter regional sectors the seat is a recliner with the benefits mainly on the ground.

6. How much does an ET ticket cost?

Fares vary constantly with demand, season, how far ahead you book, the cabin and the connection length. Run your dates through the search panel above for a current figure.

7. What is the baggage allowance?

It depends on cabin, route and fare family. Economy generally carries one or two checked pieces by region, with a larger allowance in Cloud Nine. Confirm the exact allowance shown on your booking, as partner-operated flights may differ.

8. Which loyalty programme does the airline use?

ShebaMiles. Members earn on the airline's own flights and, subject to terms, on Star Alliance partners, with elite tiers offering lounge access, priority boarding and extra baggage.

9. How large is the network?

More than 150 passenger destinations across five continents, together with an extensive freighter network, operated with a fleet of around 170 aircraft.

10. Can I check in online?

Yes. Online check-in generally opens well before departure and lets you confirm your seat and obtain a mobile boarding pass. Airport desks remain available where documents must be verified in person.

11. Will my bags be checked through to my final destination?

On most connecting itineraries, yes. Confirm at check-in in Nairobi rather than assuming it, particularly if your onward flight is operated by a partner airline.

12. How do I change or cancel a booking?

That depends on the fare family you purchased, as the cheapest fares carry the tightest conditions. Contact the team on +971 4 556 1000 or at kenya.care@travelwings.com with your booking reference.