Ethiopian Airlines Posts $9.1 Billion in Revenue for 2025/2026 Fiscal Year
Ethiopian Airlines Group has closed out the 2025/2026 fiscal year with $9.1 billion in revenue, another strong showing for the continent's largest carrier, while also flying 20.7 million passengers over the same period.
Group CEO Mesfin Tasew shared the results at the airline's annual performance briefing, reporting an 8 percent year-on-year rise in passenger numbers. Passenger kilometers climbed 10 percent, putting the airline at 99 percent of its target for the year, while cargo capacity expanded by 8 percent.
On the cargo side, Ethiopian Airlines moved 897,000 tons of freight during the year — a 16 percent jump from the previous fiscal year and a sign of continued momentum in that part of the business.
The airline also grew its route network, adding four new international destinations to bring its total to 150 international routes, alongside 25 domestic destinations. Its fleet grew by nine aircraft, and it added eight training aircraft to boost its pilot training capacity.
Mesfin acknowledged that several external factors weighed on the year's results, including flight cancellations tied to conflict in the Gulf region, suspended service to some destinations because of U.S. travel restrictions, and halted flights to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Even so, he said operational performance held up well throughout the year, with the first nine months proving especially strong and helping carry the airline's overall results.
On infrastructure, Ethiopian Airlines pushed ahead with upgrades at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, expanding the domestic terminal, passenger lounges, cargo terminal, and data center, along with beautification work around the airport.
Mesfin said construction of the new Bishoftu Airport remains on schedule, with completion expected by January 2027, and confirmed that resettlement of residents affected by the project has already been finalized. He added that work on new domestic airports is also progressing, with completion targeted for next year — part of a broader push to strengthen Ethiopia's aviation infrastructure.