Xiamen Airlines launches its first African route with weekly flights from Xiamen to Addis Ababa starting November 28, 2026, leveraging Ethiopia’s role as a regional aviation hub while Jazeera Airways begins direct service from Kuwait to the Ethiopian capital in September 2026.
Xiamen Airlines is set to debut its first African route with a weekly service between Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, commencing November 28, 2026, and operating through February 28, 2027. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft will connect the Chinese city to Ethiopia’s capital, marking the airline’s entry into the African market and reinforcing Addis Ababa’s status as a critical hub for China-Africa travel. The route, which will operate weekly, aims to capitalize on the 1.1% share of Xiamen-Africa passenger traffic that Addis Ababa represented in 2025, according to data from Sabre Market Intelligence. This move comes as Xiamen Airlines expands its international network, boosting seat capacity by 7.6% during the summer 2026 schedule and planning a further 9.2% increase in winter 2026–2027.
Xiamen Airlines’ Strategic Entry into Africa
The new Xiamen-Addis Ababa route underscores Xiamen Airlines’ strategy to aggregate demand from its domestic network and channel it through Addis Ababa to other African destinations. While direct O&D traffic between Xiamen and Addis Ababa totaled just 267 passengers in 2025, broader Xiamen-Africa traffic reached 24,300 passengers, with Luanda, Cairo, and Johannesburg as key corridors.
The route also aligns with Xiamen Airlines’ broader expansion plans. OAG data shows the carrier increased international capacity by 7.6% year-over-year in summer 2026, with new or restored services to cities like London, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta. Winter 2026–2027 capacity is set to rise another 9.2%, reaching 3 million seats globally. This growth reflects the airline’s focus on connecting China with emerging markets, a strategy echoed by Jazeera Airways, which launched its first direct flight from Kuwait to Addis Ababa in September 2026.
Jazeera Airways Expands Network with Addis Ababa Route
The three-times-weekly service targets the Ethiopian diaspora in Kuwait, offering direct connectivity for family visits and business travel. Jibril highlighted the route’s potential to boost tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, while Carroll emphasized Addis Ababa’s strategic role in Jazeera’s African expansion. The airline’s decision to enter the market follows Ethiopian Airlines’ existing services to Chinese cities and China Southern Airlines’ upcoming Guangzhou-Addis Ababa route, set to begin in October 2026.
Sabre data shows that in 2025, approximately 85,900 passengers traveled between Chinese cities and Addis Ababa, with the wider China-Ethiopia market generating about 102,300 passengers. By consolidating this demand, Xiamen Airlines and Jazeera Airways aim to strengthen their foothold in a region where Ethiopia’s aviation infrastructure continues to grow.
Broader Implications for China-Ethiopia Aviation
The combined efforts of Xiamen Airlines and Jazeera Airways highlight Ethiopia’s evolving role as a gateway between China and the African continent. Addis Ababa’s position as the largest aviation hub for China-Africa travel is reinforced by its connectivity to six major Chinese cities, a network that Xiamen Airlines’ new route aims to enhance. Meanwhile, Jazeera Airways’ entry into the market signals growing interest in Africa from Gulf carriers, a trend that could reshape regional air travel dynamics.
For Ethiopia, the increased connectivity could drive economic growth by facilitating trade and tourism. As Xiamen Airlines scales its operations and Jazeera Airways expands its network, the coming months will reveal whether these new routes can sustain momentum in a competitive and dynamic market.