Why Ethiopian Airlines Will be the World’s Largest Airline by 2100

If you fly frequently, whether for business or pleasure, there is a chance you have flown through Dubai International Airport. Emirates has transformed the aviation industry with their hub-and-spoke strategy with every flight originating or terminating at Dubai International. Their business model is based on connecting passengers through their hub at Dubai, and this has enabled them to compete in markets on all six inhabited continents. Many other airlines have followed suit, such as Turkish Airlines with their hub at Istanbul and Wowair at Keflavik.

While Emirates has received global acclaim for their success with this strategy Ethiopian Airlines has flown largely under the radar. Operating out of their hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian has made a series of strategic decisions to position themselves as the leading airline in Africa.

Location, Location, Location

Addis Ababa has a unique geographical location, positioned in close proximity to some of the largest economies in Africa. Cairo, Lagos, and Johannesburg are all within range of Ethiopian’s 737 aircraft. In addition, Ethiopian enjoys a monopoly on many of their routes within Africa and on nearly every intercontinental route including but not limited to Rome, London, Stockholm, Bangkok and New Delhi. At the…