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Fly Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 business class – from Manchester to Geneva!

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If you’re looking for something a little different for your next trip, Ethiopian Airlines is launching flights from Manchester to Geneva on 30th October.

This is a ‘fifth freedom’ service which is being tagged onto an Addis Ababa to Geneva flight.

This means that the times are a bit odd:

Ethiopian Airlines Manchester to Geneva
  • departs Manchester 18.50, arrives Geneva 21.40
  • departs Geneva 07.15, arrives Manchester 07.55

Flights operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ethiopian will operate this service with a Boeing 787-9 with flat beds in Business Class.  Unfortunately, as of last night:

  • only fully flexible (£570 one way, £800+ return) fares were available in Economy
  • no tickets were available in Business
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-9 business class seat

Ethiopian clearly hasn’t loaded its fares yet. I have seen advertising for this route over the weekend, which included mention of a Business Class cabin, so there is an intention to sell Manchester to Geneva at competitive prices.

As Ethiopian is a member of Star Alliance, it should also be available as a redemption with Miles & More or any other Star Alliance frequent flyer scheme.  We need to see how Ethiopian prices its seats before we can decide if miles or cash is a better option if you want to give this a go.

Pre-covid, Ethiopian flew between Manchester and Brussels as a similar ‘fifth freedom’ service. Ethiopian also started flights between Dublin and Madrid in 2019, later switching to Brussels, before suspending them. There was talk of a direct service between Addis Ababa and Manchester but the pandemic put a stop to that, at least for now.

You can check times and prices on the Ethiopian Airlines website here.

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Comments (19)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Greenpen says:
    15 Aug15 August 08:24

    I am concerned that these add on services do not offer the full experience of the cabin you are in. I flew PE from GRU to EZE on BA a couple of months ago and it had no appropriate service, all you got was the seat.

    There was an earlier article on flights from MAD to FRA on, I think, LATAM. I can’t remember if the full J service was offered.

    • Stuart Stebbings says:
      15 Aug15 August 08:39

      On a flight from Manchester to Geneva who cares about the service. It’s Only hour and a half or so.

    • Panda Mick says:
      15 Aug15 August 10:16

      MXP-BCN in SQ was a rather dull sandwich…. But the same excellent service.

    • Stu_N says:
      15 Aug15 August 12:48

      LATAM from FRA to MAD did full service, pisco sours on boarding and drinks/ meal in flight plus working IFE. Given timings (was around 1800 departure from FRA) I think a lot of people would eat on the first sector then get decent sleep after leaving MAD

  • Super Secret Stuff says:
    15 Aug15 August 09:53

    If its cheap I’ll do! Any way to credit to Avios or Virgin?

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      15 Aug15 August 09:54

      Leave Thursday after work, come back Tuesday morning and be back in the office by 9. Sounds good to me

    • Lady London says:
      15 Aug15 August 21:58

      UA codeshare to EI? no idea if would work but just possibly

  • His Holyness says:
    15 Aug15 August 10:19

    Any experience using Platinum Upgrade Vouchers on ET?

  • Norsksaint says:
    15 Aug15 August 15:17

    Anyone have experience of Ethiopian Biz?
    Have booked an SK/Star Alliance 2-4-1 with them to fly OSL-ADD-JNB return next year.

    • Rob says:
      15 Aug15 August 15:24

      We’re hoping to give it a try to Geneva.

      • Norsksaint says:
        16 Aug16 August 09:32

        Great Rob. Look forward to that review. Have Ethiopia out and Turkish back, two new airlines for me.

    • pauldb says:
      16 Aug16 August 19:49

      If flown with them to SEZ via ADD: back in 2012 they joined *A and you could briefly book with bmi cash+miles just before bmi’s demise. ADD is a decent, modern airport and the flights weren’t very memorable so wouldn’t put me off using them again.

  • Ian says:
    15 Aug15 August 15:47

    More fares now loaded. I did a random search and it was giving £194 one way in Economy. Strangely, Business restricted fares were showing about £200 MORE than Business fully flexible fares!

  • Joe says:
    15 Aug15 August 15:55

    Of serious interest to myself as a northerner living in Switzerland!

  • Paul says:
    15 Aug15 August 18:05

    The biggest issue is that you need to use Manchester. It is a dump!

  • Harrison says:
    15 Aug15 August 18:37

    For what it’s worth, Ethiopian has never had fifth freedom rights on the Manchester to Brussels flights

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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