Atlanta becomes the 5th US destination for Ethiopian Airlines, which also offers flights to Addis Ababa.

Atlanta will be Ethiopian Airlines' fifth U.S. destination; it is the largest airline in Africa.

The airline will provide service to Addis Abeba, the capital and hub of Ethiopia, from Atlanta.
Ethiopian will offer four weekly flights between the cities starting on May 16.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) flights traveling west will have a 50-minute refueling stop in Dublin.
The technical halt was required because of the aircraft's limited range in that direction due to the high altitude of the Addis Ababa airport and the headwinds typical of flights across the Atlantic in that direction.

However, nonstop flights are only offered from Atlanta to Addis Ababa in the east.
The only airline that offers nonstop service between the busiest airport in the world and the capital of Ethiopia is Ethiopian Airlines.

The new route also provides ATL with a high-profile Star Alliance option in a terminal dominated by SkyTeam rivals Delta Air Lines and others.

Ethiopian Airlines already offers service to Chicago, Washington, New York, and Newark. 

According to Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, the new route would further solidify links between the United States and Africa.

In a statement announcing the new route, Tasew stated, "We have been connecting the U.S. and Africa for the past 25 years, and the new service will assist increase the investment, tourist, diplomatic, and economical links between the two regions."

Ethiopian Airlines is one of the fastest-growing airlines in Africa and is already the largest airline on the continent in terms of both revenue and fleet size.
From its headquarters in Addis Ababa, it offers service to more than 145 domestic and international locations.

Ethiopian will use 315-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for its trips to Atlanta, including 30 lie-flat business class seats configured in a 2-2-2 configuration.

The following is Ethiopian Airlines' flight schedule from Atlanta to Addis Ababa: 

      
    • Ethiopian Airlines Flight 518: Departs ADD at 10:00 PM and arrives in Atlanta at 9:00 AM.
      Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays are the other days.
      The aircraft is expected to arrive in Dublin at 4:20 a.m. and depart at 5:10 a.m. for a refueling stop. 
      
    • Ethiopian Airlines Flight 519: On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, it departs from Atlanta at 10:35 a.m. and lands in Addis Ababa at 7:50 a.m.