Photo: Nanfang Plus

China Southern Airlines will launch a new Guangzhou-Changsha-Addis Ababa route on October 12, establishing the airline's first scheduled service to Ethiopia and further expanding its network in Africa.

The new service will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The route will connect Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, stopping at Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

The launch marks China Southern's entry into the Ethiopian market. The airline already provides flights from both Guangzhou and Changsha to Nairobi, Kenya, making Addis Ababa its second destination in Africa. Ethiopian Airlines already operates nonstop flights between Guangzhou and Addis Ababa, meaning the new service will add an additional travel option between southern China and East Africa.

Addis Ababa is Ethiopia's capital and one of Africa's major diplomatic and aviation hubs. The city is home to the headquarters of the African Union and serves as a key gateway to destinations across the continent.

The new service comes as passenger demand between China and Africa continues to grow, while a large proportion of travelers still rely on connecting flights. Aviation Week, citing Sabre Market Intelligence data, reported that the China-Africa market generated an estimated 2.93 million two-way O&D passengers in 2025, up 36 percent from about 2.15 million in 2024. However, only about 525,000 passengers, or 17.9 percent of the market, traveled nonstop.