How do domestic flights in Ethiopia work?

Domestic flights in Ethiopia are run by Ethiopian Airlines from Terminal 1 at Addis Ababa's Bole airport, and they are a quick, easy way to cover the long distances in this big country. You book like any other flight, arrive at least an hour before departure, and keep your cabin bag to 7 kg. A few northern routes are suspended at the moment, so check your route is flying before you plan.

If you'd rather not deal with the booking yourself, tell us your dates. Ethiopia Driver books domestic flights and hotels for our customers in birr, you pay us one amount in US dollars or your own currency, and our driver takes you to Terminal 1 and meets you when you land back in Addis.

Who flies domestic routes in Ethiopia?

Ethiopian Airlines, the state-owned national carrier, operates the scheduled domestic network from its hub at Bole. Private charter flights also exist, but for most travellers Ethiopian is the only option. Most routes start or end in Addis, so a trip between two regional towns usually means flying back through the capital.

The network is larger than many visitors expect: 25 destinations including Addis Ababa, from Dire Dawa and Jijiga in the east to Jinka and Arba Minch in the south and Gambella and Assosa in the west. Many routes use De Havilland Dash 8-Q400 turboprops, while some busier routes, such as Mekelle before the suspension, have used Boeing 737 jets.

Which domestic routes are affected right now?

A few northern routes are suspended at the time of writing. Flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire in Tigray stopped on 22-23 September 2026, and Lalibela flights followed on 24 September. On 9 October Ethiopian Airlines said Mekelle flights would restart on 11 October; when we checked on 10 October no restart date had been given for Axum, Shire or Lalibela.

Some governments currently advise against travel to parts of the north, including Amhara (Lalibela, Gondar and Bahir Dar) and Tigray, so we don't recommend booking flights there right now, even on routes that are still operating.

The rest of the network is a different story. Destinations such as Dire Dawa, Hawassa and Arba Minch are outside the restricted areas, and Addis Ababa and the south are open and busy with ordinary life. If the north was on your list, spend more time in Addis, add Bishoftu's crater lakes, or fly or drive south to Hawassa instead.

How do you book a domestic flight?

You can book on the Ethiopian Airlines website or app, through a travel agent, or at an Ethiopian Airlines office. With one airline flying the network, schedules and seat availability matter more than shopping around. Some regional routes don't fly every day, and holiday periods fill up.

We can also book domestic flights for our customers. We pay the fare locally in birr and add it to your trip, so you pay us one amount in US dollars or your own currency before you arrive, together with your hotels and driver. It saves you juggling cash and cards in two currencies, and your airport rides are already lined up around the flight times.

Is there a discount if you fly into Ethiopia on Ethiopian?

Domestic fares differ depending on who is flying. Visitors arriving or leaving on an Ethiopian Airlines international ticket have long been offered a lower domestic fare than visitors who came on another airline, though the gap narrowed after the birr was devalued. The airline doesn't set out the rules clearly online, so check eligibility when you book.

• Keep your Ethiopian international booking reference handy when you book the domestic legs.
• Carry proof of your international ticket to check-in in case you are asked for it.
• If the website doesn't offer the lower fare, an Ethiopian Airlines ticket office may be able to help.

What should you know about baggage on domestic flights?

The economy cabin allowance is 7 kg, with bags no larger than 55 × 40 × 23 cm. There is no separate published checked allowance for domestic-only tickets, and the allowance can depend on how your ticket was issued. The allowance printed on your own e-ticket is the one that counts, so check it before you pack for a long trip.

How does the airport work for domestic flights?

At Bole, domestic flights use Terminal 1 and international flights use Terminal 2. The two buildings are next to each other, about a 300 m walk apart through the public area outside.

1. Get there early. Arrive at least one hour before departure; check-in counters generally close an hour before the flight. Allow more for traffic and for the security screening at the terminal entrance.
2. Connecting from an international flight? You arrive at Terminal 2, get your visa or go through passport control, then walk outside to Terminal 1 and go through security again. Leave plenty of time between flights.
3. Keep your ID handy. Foreign visitors fly on their passport, so keep it with you, not in checked luggage.
4. Reconfirm the day before. Domestic schedules can change at short notice. Check the app or call the airline.

When is flying better than driving?

For long distances, flying is usually the right call: a short flight can replace a full day or more on the road. Long drives outside Addis Ababa are planned to finish in daylight, which also favours flying for the longest trips.

For shorter trips, the road often wins, and you see the country on the way. Bishoftu is close to Addis, and the drive south to Hawassa is a whole-car trip our drivers make regularly. Before every trip outside Addis we do our own security check using reports from our drivers across the country, then talk it through with you and decide together on the route, the time to leave, or whether to fly instead. You get one fixed quote for the car.

What should you check before you fly domestic?

• Official travel advice for your destination.
• That your route is operating. As of 10 October 2026, Axum, Shire and Lalibela were suspended, and Mekelle was due to restart on 11 October.
• Your Ethiopian international booking reference, if you hope to get a visitor fare.
• Your cabin bag weight (7 kg) and the hold allowance on your e-ticket.
• Your ride to Terminal 1, with time to spare. Addis traffic is unpredictable.