There are times when you look at a route map, and you think… wha? This is one of those times, with Ethiopian Airlines planning a route between Addis Ababa to Los Angeles… via Dublin
In terms of Great Circle Map, it looks something like this:
Planned Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa to Los Angeles via Dublin Great Circle route: Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper – copyright © Karl L. Swartz
Ethiopian Airlines plan to run the route 3 times a week, allowing the airline to connect Europe and the USA in on route from June 2015, making this the only flight to connect the continents together one flight number.
No timings have been filed as yet, and the route has to be approved by regulators. The airline will use a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on this route when it commences.
This route will add Ethiopian Airlines 11th European destination and 4th destination in the Americas.
Tewolde Gebremariam of Ethiopian Airlines is looking forward to rolling this route out, stating:
“Our new flights connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin and Los Angeles will play a critical role in the expansion of trade, tourism investment between the fast growing continent of Africa, and the United States and Ireland. As the these flights will be the first and only direct air route linking Africa with Ireland and the West Coat of the U.S., they will bring these two seemingly far away cities much closer to Africa and will facilitate mobility and connectivity for businesses and the large African Diaspora community living in the West Coast of the United States.”
This is an interesting route. It’s combining a route to Dublin, with a fifth freedom connection onto the USA. With a stop in Dublin, this will allow passengers to board mid-route, which could provide some interesting fare combinations to Los Angeles.
As the airline hasn’t committed resources or actually flown the route yet, currently there are no risks. Additionally, the airline will be the sole operator between Dublin and Los Angeles, and Dublin and Addis Ababa.
Can the airline make this route work? It will depend. Whilst it’s not going to be a frequent service, it does build semi-direct flights between continents.
Is that enough? I’m not sure.
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Any word on if they are planning to use Dublin pre-clearance?
No details as yet. Still some time away. Once route authority is granted – hopefully we’ll know.
Put it like this: It would be a waste if there wasn’t pre-clearance when the facility is available. It’ll be down to timings I suspect.