Ethiopian Airlines, could the U.S. - Addis route be more profitable? 

By Hirouye Teshome

I finally picked up my pen, I just couldn't take it any more! First let me say as an Ethiopian who is proud of our national carrier I am relieved to hear of new purchases and leases from Boeing. 

As a simple passenger who has little/no knowledge of what it takes to modify/open new routes I have some really burning questions. I personally believe that the U.S. - Addis route could be much more profitable and importantly much more optimum than it currently is. 

My first aggravation starts by the question, Why is Ethiopian Airlines wasting a stop in Rome? I consider this stop a TOTAL waste! Why don't we make a stop in any West African nation like Accra, Ghana for example! Ideally it would be best to have a second hub some where in West Africa. May be I am being too naïve but it seems a lot more profitable to link U.S to West & East Africa simultaneously. A stop in any West African city may be used not only for fueling, stacking supplies changing pilots but also for bringing our West African brothers. East African folks can warm their seats thinking they are in Rome. This route may also be synchronized with some arriving planes from Europe. May be we can have a few ATR's & Fokker 50 planes to serve neighboring cities/countries (as soon as the U.S. and maybe Europe planes arrive). I must say I was pissed and started writing when my fears turned to reality. I read the following article about a new "Afrinat International Airlines" offering new flights from the United States to four West African destination from September onwards (from JFK NY to the Gambia, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon). Here is the link, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2240830.stm. Here is a direct quote obtained from BBC, "If you take a look at the market right now everything is booked till November, there is no flight from West Africa at all to the US"? Here is another quote; "Afrinat was formed by a group of African businessmen frustrated by the difficult connections and high cost of flying from West Africa to the United States." Has Ethiopian Airlines been napping? Why weren't we there first? 

My second aggravation comes from the petty connection from Newark, New Jersey to Washington D.C., Dulles. This connection tickles me. I just don't understand it! To begin with, the cost of flight from Newark to D.C. is relatively cheap (thanks to cheap shuttles). Anyone from the East Coast can come to D.C. with relative ease. To me the landing and/or take off risk and compromise in service for continuing customers simply does not justify the hop. Even if it makes sense theoretically, it does not practically! West Coast to East Coast connection is another thing.  

Please allow me to indulge into modifications of our Ethiopian Airlines U.S. to Addis route. From Addis, ET go to Accra, Ghana (pick up West African homies from the land of Black Stars) then go to Atlanta, GA, via the coast of South America. Here Ethiopian Airlines will touch a significant Ethiopian population (I am not from Atlanta by the way) comparable to that of NY (it's a guess). Then go to Washington D.C. half the time AND L.A California half the time (once a week in each of the big cities). Right now the L.A crowd is forgotten by Ethiopian Airlines, they would much rather fly Lufthansa with minimum hassle. I think by using the above route, Ethiopian Airlines can leverage on its competitive advantage and economy of scale to serve West African clients. Please somebody tell me what I am missing!  
Last but not least keep on working on your service. It has improved but still has room to grow. Make sure you go the extra effort for mothers with children. I used to hear mothers complain once in a while. 

Hirouye Teshome

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