Ethiopian Airlines launched its new connection to Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS), France, via Geneva (GVA), Switzerland, on July 2, 2026, with three weekly frequencies operated by an Airbus A350-900. Lyon thus becomes the airline’s third destination in France, joining Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Marseille, and the 23rd destination for Ethiopian in Europe, cementing its position as Africa’s largest carrier.
Flight ET 738 departs Addis Ababa at 00:10 and arrives in Geneva at 06:30, continuing to Lyon with an 08:15 arrival. In the opposite direction, ET 739 leaves Lyon at 19:20 with a stop in Geneva (20:05–21:05), arriving in Addis Ababa at 04:55 the following day. In France, the airline is represented by APG Network, the global distribution group specializing in General Sales Agent (GSA) services for passengers and cargo.
The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mesfin Tasew, stated: “We are delighted to connect our passengers with a new getaway option in France with our new flights to Lyon. France has been an integral part of Ethiopian Airlines’ network for decades, and throughout this time we have connected Paris and Marseille with numerous destinations in Africa through seamless connections via our hub in Addis Ababa.” Tasew also announced that the airline plans to launch five additional international destinations before the end of 2026 as part of its global expansion strategy.
When did the Addis Ababa–Geneva–Lyon route begin operating?
The route launched on July 2, 2026, with three weekly frequencies operated by an Airbus A350-900.
What are the flight timings between Addis Ababa and Lyon?
Flight ET 738 departs Addis Ababa at 00:10, arrives in Geneva at 06:30, and in Lyon at 08:15. ET 739 leaves Lyon at 19:20, stops in Geneva from 20:05 to 21:05, and arrives in Addis Ababa at 04:55 the following day.
Who represents Ethiopian Airlines in France?
The airline is represented in France by APG Network, a global distribution group specializing in General Sales Agent (GSA) services.
What other operations and plans did Ethiopian Airlines mention?
In addition to Lyon, Ethiopian operates numerous European airports and confirmed an order for six Boeing 787-9s; it plans to launch five additional international destinations before the end of 2026 and also launched a direct route to Mauritius starting July 12, 2026.
The opening of Lyon coincides with the launch of the direct route between Addis Ababa and Mauritius, which will begin on July 12, 2026, with three weekly frequencies (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) operated by a Boeing 737 MAX-8 (flight ET 0887, departure 08:50, arrival 15:20). Both additions are part of Ethiopian Airlines’ Vision 2035, which seeks to position Bole International Airport as Africa’s most important aviation hub, connecting the continent with Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Ethiopian Airlines’ European network includes major airports such as London-Heathrow, Paris-CDG, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Madrid, and Rome, as well as secondary points like Milan-Malpensa, Manchester, Brussels, Zurich, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. The airline recently confirmed a firm order for six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, cementing its position as Africa’s largest 787 operator, with a fleet that includes Boeing 737, 777, 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft, in addition to its cargo fleet of Boeing 777F.
From Lyon, passengers will be able to connect in Addis Ababa with a broad network of over 60 destinations in Africa, including Nairobi, Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, Dar es Salaam, and Kigali, as well as destinations in the Middle East such as Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh, and in Asia like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Beijing. The route reinforces commercial, tourism, and business ties between the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the African continent.