The Airline made its first flight to Shanghai on 21 February 1973 and operated there for a while before it shifted its flights to Beijing on 07 November 1973.
Ethiopian Airlines is the first African carrier to fly to China and has been connecting the country with the whole of Africa for half a century now. China is now one of the biggest markets for Ethiopian Airlines with more passenger services to four destinations: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Hong Kong.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said: “The beginning of flights to China 50 years ago heralded an important milestone in the history of the Airline. Ethiopian was among the first to serve China and has ever since been providing reliable services to the country. As China is one of the key destinations in Asia, we will maintain our commitment to serving the country, thereby providing access for the Chinese people to the big African market. China-Africa relation is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, and Ethiopian Airlines continues to serve the needs of the traveling public by availing the best connections to Africa and beyond, using its ultramodern aircraft. We are pleased to have served the people of China for the last 50 years, and we will continue to be a bridge connecting China with African nations.”