Ethiopian Airlines Receives APEX Best Airline in Africa Award
Share
Ethiopian Airlines received the 2026 APEX Best Airline in Africa Award on the final day of the APEX Board of Directors’ yearly strategic meeting, which was hosted by the carrier at its Bole International Airport (ADD) headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
While the remainder of the APEX Best™ Awards will be unveiled at the 2026 APEX FTE EMEA event in Dublin from June 9-11, APEX decided to bring forward Ethiopian Airlines’ award presentation so the carrier could receive it proudly on home ground.
“Being named Best Airline in Africa motivates us to keep raising our standards and delivering an experience our customers can trust and enjoy.”
– Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines
The airline was ranked best in Africa based on verified passenger votes via TripIt® from Concur®. Each year, the APEX Best Awards capture more than one million verified passenger votes on flights across more than 600 airlines worldwide, making them some of the most transparent accolades in the aviation industry.
Commenting on the award, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, “Receiving this recognition from our passengers makes it truly special. It reflects the dedication and teamwork of our staff across the entire network. Being named Best Airline in Africa motivates us to keep raising our standards and delivering an experience our customers can trust and enjoy.”
Vision 2035: The Project to Become a Leading Global Airline
The award comes as Africa’s oldest airline, which recently celebrated 80 years of service, continues with ‘Vision 2035’, its mission to become one of the top 20 global airlines in the next decade. Announced in 2022, Vision 2035 aims to see the carrier double both its fleet and its route network, as well as grow its annual passenger traffic to 67 million.
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 170 aircraft with an average fleet age of seven years to over 145 destinations.
At the 2023 Dubai Airshow, it made a landmark order for up to 67 Boeing jets, consisting of 11 787 Dreamliners, 20 737 MAXs and 36 additional options, marking the largest Boeing purchase in African history. In April this year, it exercised options for 6 more 787-9 Dreamliners, with which it will expand its intercontinental network from Addis Ababa in response to rising long-haul travel demand.
It is also the largest Airbus A350 customer in Africa, and has 17 more of the type on order with the OEM, six of which were added to its backlog in November 2025.
According to The Air Current, Ethiopian Airlines is now considering another, even larger aircraft order to allow it to take advantage of additional capacity offered by Bishoftu International Airport currently under construction outside Addis Ababa and set to accommodate up to 110 million passengers per year on completion.
Elevating its Onboard Product
Ethiopian Airlines is making a conscious effort to equip its aircraft with the latest cutting-edge technology from various suppliers to ensure a state-of-the-art aircraft cabin interior and accompanying passenger experience.
In terms of entertainment, Ethiopian Airlines’ A350-1000 aircraft feature the latest Thales AVANT Up IFE system, which includes OPTIQ 4K QLED HDR displays, two Bluetooth connections and in-screen USB-A and USB-C charging ports. In addition, the carrier also offers in-flight connectivity on its A350-1000s, powered by Viasat’s GX Aviation service via the Airbus HBC+ program. Wi-Fi is also available on its Boeing 777 and most 787 jets under the ‘ShebaSkyConnect’ brand.
In May last year, it selected Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova IFE system for its incoming Boeing 777X fleet, the first of which is due to be delivered in 2028. Astrova offers 4K OLED HDR10+ screens and premium quality audio powered by Panasonic Avionics’ latest Bluetooth technology.
“Ethiopian Airlines continues to demonstrate leadership in African aviation through passenger experience excellence, operational commitment, and a standard of service that resonates with travelers across the continent and beyond.”
– Dr. Joe Leader, APEX
Seating is also a strong area of focus, with Ethiopian Airlines due to install Collins Aerospace’s Diamond Seat product on 56 Boeing 737 MAX jets, both linefit on new deliveries and retrofit on a portion of the fleet. This will give passengers access to a 78-inch lie-flat product on its narrow-body fleet in a 2-2 configuration. It will also install Collins’ Elevation business-class product on 11 of its incoming Airbus A350-900s, meaning passengers traveling in its Cloud Nine business class will have doors on their seats for the first time.
Finally, the airlines’ in-flight catering has also undergone a transformation in recent times, with the carrier redesigning its 2026 menu to cater to a diverse range of passengers and dietary requirements. It features both international and Ethiopian cuisine, a highlight of which is Injera, a spongy sourdough flatbread made from Teff.
According to ENA English, during the initial 2026 menu unveiling, Ethiopian Airlines Group VP Customer Experience and Vice President of the APEX Board of Directors Samson Arega said, “At Ethiopian Airlines, we believe food is more than nourishment. It’s a story, a culture, and an experience. Our menus are inspired by rich culinary traditions of Ethiopia, elevated with international flavors, and crafted with meticulous care to meet the highest global standards.”
Enhancing the End-to-End Passenger Experience
Not only is the carrier continually updating its aircraft fleet, but is instead taking a holistic approach to its growth and improvement, investing in every aspect of the passenger journey.
During a conference session at the recent APEX FTE Asia EXPO in Singapore, Arega emphasized that the airline’s approach is rooted in a simple but powerful principle: automate what creates friction and humanise what creates connection.
Last September, Ethiopian Airlines announced a partnership with SITA to co-develop innovative airport solutions that strengthen the airline’s operations and enhance the passenger experience. In December 2025, the carrier inaugurated a new premium lounge at ADD. At the opening, Tasew commented, “This move further reflects our unwavering commitment to deliver an end-to-end, world-class hospitality to our customers.”
APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader commented, “Ethiopian Airlines earning the 2026 APEX Best Airline in Africa award reflects the voice of verified passengers at scale. With more than one million verified flight ratings collected through TripIt across more than 600 airlines worldwide, APEX recognizes airlines through the most transparent awards methodology in the industry.
“Ethiopian Airlines continues to demonstrate leadership in African aviation through passenger experience excellence, operational commitment, and a standard of service that resonates with travelers across the continent and beyond.”
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew and Chief Passenger Experience Officer Samson Arega will both be speaking onstage at the APEX FTE Expo in Singapore from 18-19 November, sharing how Africa’s global airline is leading in innovation, culture, and customer experience at scale. Register for the event here.