My initial thoughts about an airline in Ethiopia would have been: "not for me'! But I've noticed it has developed as a mini-TK with a great network not just in Africa but to many other destinations. The FR picture of aeroplanes streaming into Addis Ababa is impressive and they are clearly doing well.

So, on a short holiday to Thailand I flew out Swiss first and came back in ET business. This is a short report on my ET experience.

The flight from BKK departs 01.50 which even if you have managed a two hour sleep earlier in the evening is not an attractive time to fly. However, checkin was quick and efficient and there was no queue at the fast track security at the far (TG) end of the terminal. The signs further away from the fast track entrance say diplomatic but it can be used by J and status passengers too. ET use the Miracle Lounge and I was given a printed invite card at checkin. I decided not to use the Miracle but to do some sampling of the *A lounges instead. I visited the main TG lounge for a drink and a sandwich before trying to find the Singapore lounge. The TG lounge was packed. The Singapore lounge location seems to have changed but some of the maps of the airport still show it in its original position. I eventually tracked it down on the main length of the terminal towards the E wing end, but alas it closes at 23.30 so I could not investigate.

I then went to the Eva lounge which was very nice. The decor is different and it feels good. I had a fresh coconut.

View of the Eva lounge


Another view of Eva lounge. The TG lounge I visited first was very crowded but Eva was quiet and felt relaxed. The decor is unusual but pleasant.

I arrived at the gate after most had boarded and although there was a short Y queue I walked to the front where they dealt with me immediately, no delay. Interestingly, they were holding Y passengers as there was a queue in the jet bridge. This seems a good idea to me as spending ten minutes waiting on a jet bridge with poor air conditioning is not a good experience. The aeroplane was a B787 and to my surprise had 2+2+2 angle flat seating.


Fortunately the seat next to my seat (I'm 2L, the window) was unoccupied. I do like the open aspect of this type of cabin, with plenty of seating space and no foot tunnel!

I was keen to try the food even at gone 2 in the morning. Here's the menu:


Menu was handed out and a welcoming glass of champagne offered (and taken) to consume whilst perusing the choices for my late dinner.


I was disappointed that the glass was not branded Ethiopian as I usually take on as a souvenir (yes, I know I shouldn't but if the airline puts their logo on a glass they are inviting you to remember them). Here's the menu choice:









An express meal was offered, probably because of the time of day, and I guess many of those who did not go straight to sleep partook.



I had the champagne as a welcome drink and then a couple more with the start of my meal. I have never heard of Champagne Victoire but it tasted fine. Subsequent Googling indicates it is a newish marque with a good reputation at its price. I think, although I am no champagne connoisseur, it is produced to supply the booming Asian market for champagne.






I was not given an amenity kit; I think they did distribute them before I had arrived but I did get one later when I asked, albeit with a slight frisson of annoyance as they thought I was chancing my luck to get a second one!

The cabin crew were doing their job but it seemed a little disjointed, as if they were trying to follow the operating procedure but not quite understanding it! When the pilot announced 'crew seats for take off' he then left his microphone on. Getting an aeroplane off the ground involved quite a few single words interspersed with grunting noises but I guess nothing rude as none of the other passengers, many of whom would speak the language, did not laugh, giggle or squeal.

The J cabin was well staffed with three stewardesses, one wearing (what I assume to be) national dress. They were very quick indeed to serve dinner so must have been well prepared. I found the stewardess who served me aloof, almost haughty, in her general demeanour. Certainly not friendly or welcoming.

Here are my dishes:


This is the starter, there was no choice. The side salad would win a gold prize for ordinariness, no dressing of any sort. The chicken and mozzarella was fine but dull. The orangey stuff was some sort of sauce and it would have been nicer to have had more to give the dish a much needed boost.



Not much to look at but the chicken was nice and the chips were some sort of yam. The carrots had experience boiling water for 30 seconds at most sometime earlier that day.

I was tired, but not so tired to not enjoy a couple more glasses of the Ethiopian red. It was a nice wine. No dessert though and got just about four hours of sleep, or something similar; I had forgotten the angled flat sleeping experience so got a quick reminder. They are horrid; I slip down the bed as I doze and ram my feet into the space at the end of the seating.

I said about four hours sleep as two hours before touch down, BANG, all the cabin lights go on in one go and breakfast service commences. The first part of breakfast just comes, you don't get any say in what is first put in front of you! There was no yogurt.


Yes, that's cornflakes with milk. Here's a close up if you don't believe me.


The cornflakes came in a bowl and the stewardess then poured milk over them from a silver jug. It was probably stainless steel but the principle was silver. Now I don't eat cornflakes and neither do I put milk of cereals, granola, muesli etc nor do I drink it. But I felt I had to enjoy the full Ethiopian experience so did so, and actually enjoyed it. There was coffee too but I did not have the hot dish.

Breakfast service was quick and less than an hour later having cleared up the cabin light were dimmed, presumably for a traditional second sleep?

We landed at a cool and rainy Addis Ababa at a remote stand so had a bus to the terminal. There was a separate bus for J passengers, although it was a normal airport bus, no luxury seating. Security clearance at transfer was speedy and I went to the lounge which will be Part two of this report.

Summary of first flight: rather old fashioned and slightly disorganised at times; uncomfortable seating (as a bed, the seat part was fine); dull food; very acceptable wines; cool but very efficient service; compulsory cornflakes and milk and finally strange lighting manipulation. It is a late flight from BKK on a bucket and spade route so may suffer from this somewhat.

Based on this experience, would I fly ET again? Well, I'm in ADD and want to be in London so I guess I have little option. However, the second leg was rather different and will appear in Part three when I write it tomorrow.