Ethiopian Airlines Dominates Nigeria's Outbound Traffic

Ethiopian Airlines is significantly increasing its share of Nigeria's outbound traffic by implementing a multi-point entry model, which allows passengers from various regions to fly directly to Addis Ababa. In 2024, data from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) revealed that only five of Nigeria's 13 domestic airlines—Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria, ValueJet, and Overland—handled international traffic, collectively accounting for just 6.89% of the market with 285,023 passengers on 2,118 international flights.

In contrast, Ethiopian Airlines operated 53 weekly flights, including 21 from Lagos and new routes from Kano and Port Harcourt, serving 460,444 passengers and capturing an 11.13% market share. Gbenga Onitilo, principal managing partner at Aeronexus Partners, noted that Ethiopian Airlines is not just selling point-to-point seats but leveraging a global network effect, enhancing connectivity for Nigerian passengers without requiring them to travel through Lagos or Abuja.

This strategy could divert high-yield traffic from domestic carriers but also presents opportunities for Nigerian airlines to act as feeder networks.