Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said: “The launch of our new service to Abu Dhabi reflects Ethiopian Airlines’ strategic commitment to connecting Africa with the world. Through our collaboration with Etihad Airways, we are creating more opportunities for trade, investment, and tourism between our nations while offering our passengers expanded choice and convenience. This partnership is a powerful example of what can be achieved when two national carriers come together to unlock mutual growth.”

This new daily service to Abu Dhabi expands Ethiopian Airlines' already extensive operations in the Gulf region. The airline currently operates over 100 weekly passenger flights to 13 destinations across the Middle East and Gulf. In June 2025, Ethiopian also launched a new four-times-weekly passenger service to Sharjah.

With the Addition of Abu Dhabi, Ethiopian now operates flight to/from four airports in three cities in the UAE: Dubai, Dubai International Airport DXB & Al Maktoum International Airport DWC (cargo), Sharjah, now Abu Dhabi, the futuristic Zayed International Airport. 

The agreement, which will take effect on August 1, 2025, was signed at a ceremony held at Airlink’s Head Office in Johannesburg, with the participation of senior executives from both companies.

This strategic collaboration will significantly expand guests’ travel options by integrating Turkish Airlines’ unparalleled global network with Airlink’s extensive domestic and regional routes across South Africa and its region. The partnership enables seamless multi-sector travel on a single ticket, offering greater convenience and flexibility for international and regional travellers.

Under the new agreement, Turkish Airlines will place its “TK” flight code on Airlink-operated flights, allowing smooth connections from Turkish Airlines’ services into Cape Town and Johannesburg to a wide range of South African and regional destinations.

Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Strategy Officer Levent Konukcu, said: “As Turkish Airlines, we give importance to this cooperation with Airlink so as to enhance our connectivity in South Africa and the region. We aim to improve our partnership to maximise the travel opportunities offered to our guests. We believe that this partnership will not only bring benefits to both carriers from a commercial perspective but also improve the cultural and tourism relations between the two countries.”

Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht added: ”This collaboration with Turkish Airlines represents a significant opportunity to deepen ties between the two airlines. The agreement is a further endorsement of Airlink’s brand, while for our respective customers, it means more convenient travel options, with world-class service and easier access to destinations across our combined and extensive route networks.”

 

“From long-haul debut into Europe to introducing premium offerings like IndiGoStretch and IndiGo BluChip, IndiGo is taking massive strides towards evolving into a global airline by 2030,” said Pieter Elbers.

“I am looking forward to sharing our ambitious growth story at the Aviation India Summit 2025 in Delhi. We believe this is India’s time to take its rightful place on the global aviation stage. Events like this help showcase the growing Indian aviation to the world and demonstrate the sector’s significant role in the nation’s progress,” said Elbers.

The 2nd edition of Aviation India & South Asia Summit & Exhibition 2025 is organised by Times Aerospace Events (MESA) alongside joint venture partner, the MRO Association of India.

Under the event headline: “Shaping the pathway for Indian aviation”, the Summit promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of the commercial air transport community and ecosystem this year in India and builds upon the success of the launch summit in 2024 which attracted 582 delegates. It is expected the 2025 edition will attract over 800 delegates and some 70 exhibitors.

Among the senior names from India’s aviation industry taking part in the Summit are Campbell Wilson of Air India, Salil Gupte of Boeing India, Shri Vipin Kumar of Airports Authority of India, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar of Delhi International Airport and Hari Marar, CEO of Bangalore International Airport.

Aviation India summit 2025 builds on the formula of the successful Times Aerospace Aviation Africa events, which began in Dubai in 2015 and have been held in Rwanda, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Key drivers include expanded routes, better connectivity, and rising domestic and international travel demand.

In June 2025, seat capacity across Africa decreased by 3% compared to June 2024. However, intra-African routes recorded a slight increase of 0.1% in seat capacity, owing to new route introductions, network expansion, and aircraft upsizing initiatives.

The top ten African airports by seat capacity for June 2025 were as follows:

1.         Cairo International Airport:22.6%

2.         Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International: 14.8%

3.         Addis Ababa Bole International Airport: 14.7%

4.         Mohammed V International Airport: 8.9%

5.         Houari Boumediene Airport, Algiers: 7.4%

6.         Cape Town International Airport: 7.0%

7.         Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi : 6.7%

8.         Marrakesh Menara Airport: 6.6%

9.         Tunis–Carthage International Airport: 5.8%

10.      Hurghada International Airport: 5.3%

Regional seat capacity distribution was led by:

•           North Africa: 40.7%

•           Eastern Africa: 23.0%

•           Southern Africa: 18.9%

•           Central and Western Africa: 17.4%

As of April 2025, African airlines accounted for 52.4% of international capacity (including both regional and intercontinental operations), while non-African carriers represented 47.6%. For intercontinental services, African carriers held a 36.3% capacity share, with non-African operators commanding 63.7%.

African carriers represented 49.0% of total international traffic (regional and intercontinental) in April 2025, while non-African carriers accounted for 51.0%. In terms of intercontinental traffic specifically, African carriers held a 35.3% traffic share, compared to 64.7% for non-African airlines.

AFRAA projects passenger traffic for African airlines to grow to 113 million in 2025, up from 98 million in 2024, representing a 15.3% increase. This increase underscores the industry’s resilience and positive trajectory.

A year-on-year comparison of Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) indicates a 2% increase in May 2025 compared to May 2024. Similarly, Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) rose by an estimated 6% during the same period.

Connectivity

As of June 2025, intra-African connectivity based on capacity saw the 3rd and 4th Freedom traffic rights each representing 39% of total capacity, while 5th Freedom operations represented 22%.

An analysis of cargo traffic by sub-region as of May 2025 revealed that African exports continued to outpace imports in most regions However, Southern, Western, and Central Africa recorded higher import volumes than exports. The market share of African airlines in cargo transport also remains an important area of strategic focus. Eastern Africa accounted for 30% of Africa's total cargo market share.

Passenger revenues for African carriers also demonstrated strong growth, with April 2025 recording a 19% increase compared to April 2024.

Jet Fuel Prices: As of the week ending 20 June 2025, the global average jet fuel price stood at USD 96.97 per barrel, reflecting a 12.9% increase compared to USD 82.30 per barrel recorded in the same week of the previous month.

Regulatory/Industry Affairs

African airlines are urged to remain attentive to ongoing developments and to take appropriate action as necessary. AFRAA further welcomes updates from African airlines on any relevant developments in the following highlighted regulatory areas:

US Travel Restrictions

On 4 June 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”

The proclamation which took effect on 9 June 2025, suspended the entry of nationals from 12 countries (7 African) into the United States. The countries are: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.  In addition, nationals from 7 other countries (3 African) are partially restricted from traveling to the US (depending on visa type):  Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Citizens of another 25 countries may face similar restrictions if their governments fail to meet set conditions outlined by the US.

The launch of the Hanoi route marks Ethiopian Airlines’ first passenger gateway into Vietnam and its 20th destination in Asia.

Mesfin Tasew, Group chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines, said:“We are truly delighted to start passenger services to Hanoi, a city of great cultural and economic significance. This new route not only supports our vision of connecting Africa to the world but also serves as a bridge for enhanced cooperation between Africa and Southeast Asia. With our modern fleet, award-winning service, and vast global network, we are confident that this route will facilitate growing tourism, business, and people-to-people ties between Vietnam and the African continent.”

Services on the enhanced aircraft, feature newly configured and refreshed cabins throughout, including its Premium Economy offering.

Emirates will also deploy its retrofitted four-class Boeing 777 on flights EK650/651 operating between Dubai and Colombo from 18 July, becoming the airline’s second daily flight in Sri Lanka to feature Premium Economy seats.

Currently, over 40 destinations in Emirates’ network offer Premium Economy.

The state-owned commercial airline was established by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, in a view to attract investment and tourism.

“I had the honour of unveiling Enugu Air, our state-owned commercial airline - a bold step towards realising our vision of transforming Enugu into a regional aviation and economic powerhouse,” said Mbah.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was also in attendance at the inauguration and warned for the airline not to have the same fate as Nigerian Airways which was liquidated: “Do not let Enugu Air go the way of Nigerian Airways. Run it professionally and do not let bureaucracy kill Enugu Air,” he said.

Mbah said the airline will start off with three Embraer aircraft and will first begin with Enugu to Abuja to Lagos before expanding to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, Kano, and across various other cities.

“In the next phase, we will fly beyond Nigeria, into other African countries, China, Europe, UK, US, and other global business hubs,” he said.

Mbah said that Enugu Air will help transform the state into a regional hub for business and tourism, as well as create jobs and career paths for young people.

Flight searches for summer travel have climbed 7% compared to last year, with France leading the charge, experiencing a remarkable 35% increase in outbound travel searches, followed by Ireland, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are also seeing strong momentum, highlighting robust travel intent across key markets.

In 2025, a few breakout cities have emerged as the top summer destinations for Emirates, and they’re largely concentrated in the Far East, Indian Ocean and Europe.

Emirates’ summer hotspots

Vietnam has emerged as this summer's ‘it’ destination, stealing the spotlight with a robust 61% leap in interest, and an uplift in booking demand. Emirates flies to three points in Vietnam with 25 weekly flights: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and in June this year, the airline launched services to Da Nang via Bangkok, with flight times that offer seamless connections to/from major European cities and key American hubs.

Vietnam's vibrant third metropolis is a gateway to a trio of UNESCO World Heritage treasures and over 3,000km of untouched coastline. For culinary adventurers, Vietnamese cuisine is a story in every bite. From bustling street food markets to hidden local gems, the country’s dining scene promises an unforgettable experience.

Close behind, the island nation of Mauritius continues to charm travellers, with searches for flights rising 41% as the second most in-demand destination on the Emirates network this summer. The airline offers two convenient daily flights on its iconic A380s; while Sri Lanka has seen a 32% increase as a clear favourite for its rich cultural tapestry, pristine beaches, ‘tea country’ and affordable luxury experiences.

Japan continues its magnetic pull on global explorers, growing 28% in flight searches compared to last year, with its unique culture, stunning landscapes, modern cities, and delectable cuisine blending balance and artistry. Emirates operates 21 weekly flights to three Japanese points – Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka.

France rounds out the top five with a solid 25% boost, and Emirates is helping meet traveller demand this summer, serving Paris with 21 weekly flights, including 3 daily A380 flights; a daily A380 service to Nice; and a daily A350 flight to Lyon.

The science of wanderlust: booking data and travel choices

In the UAE, Emirates has seen a 13% rise in flight searches overall, and airline has witnessed a year-on-year increase for searches to destinations like Sri Lanka, Jordan, France, India, Lebanon, and Morrocco. Travellers from the US flying Emirates have been increasingly focusing their searches on African points like Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, while UK travellers are searching 12% more than last year on emirates.com, with increasing interest to far flung destinations like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

Indian travellers seek more opportunities to venture out to Australia, New Zealand and Ireland in 2025, while the airline notes that Australian travellers are focusing on their European summer plans, with a rise in searches to France and the UK. Over the past year, German travellers are drawn eastbound with higher search levels to Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and the Seychelles.

Summer traditionally skews for longer breaks, particularly for Emirates travellers from India, Australia, the UK and Germany who stretch their getaways into extended escapes - close to a third of them travel for more than a month, while those from the US opt for 2-3 week stays for their summer getaways.

The diversity of Dubai's summer visitors

Emirates forecasts healthy inbound passenger traffic to Dubai during the summer months this year, demonstrating the ongoing global appeal of the city as a ‘must visit’ destination year-round.

Solo Travelers dominate nearly half of all US, Indian, and Australian visitors, mixing business with leisure during stays averaging just over one week.

Family Travel tells different stories by nationality. About one-third of US and Indian visitors travel as families, though preferences diverge—Indian families favour shorter getaways while American families typically explore Dubai for 1-2 weeks. UK families represent the majority of British visitors, often extending their Dubai experience beyond two weeks.

Couples form another significant segment. Younger Australian and German couples embrace extended stays ranging from two weeks to an entire month, maximising their time to discover Dubai.

The service will offer three weekly frequencies, bringing greater connections between Southern and Eastern Africa.

The airline is the first in South Africa to trial a free AI-powered travel assistant, designed to transform the customer experience through technology.

At this stage in development, Lindi’s capabilities include being able to book flights for a single passenger, change a name or seat, and provide certain travel information. Customers can access Lindi 24 hours a day, seven days a week via WhatsApp, ensuring more convenient, faster, and simpler assistance with their travel requirements,” said Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair.

“Our ambition at FlySafair has always been to provide an affordable, hassle-free, and punctual flying experience,” said Gordon. “AI and Lindi provide an opportunity to offer what is effectively a free private travel assistant to each customer at scale. We are excited about building on her potential to enhance our customer services.”

“There are a number of AI assistants that have been created by airlines to help with general information about flying and destinations, but Lindi is the first that can assist customers with their bookings. As AI is increasingly integrated into our everyday life, we felt it was a good time to bring this innovative technology to our customers and enable them to benefit from AI practically. Lindi offers a seamless, efficient and human-like service that I am confident will set a new standard in the airline industry,” concludes Gordon.