Ethiopian Airlines: Possible to take advantage of technical stop in FCO? (ADD-IAD)
 

I have a friend that is interning for the UN in Mozambique this summer and she is looking to book a *A flight and is interested in doing a small amount of traveling afterwards.

The current cheapest flights to JRO are on ET via ADD. However, I noticed on the return ADD-IAD, there is a stop in FCO for 1 hour (from 3:25am to 4:25am).

No matter what I do, I can't turn that into a layover there. I'm assuming ET doesn't have the rights to sell ADD-FCO and FCO-IAD?

Thanks!

If it is a "technical stop" then you cannot use it for stop over.

That's the thing. I don't think it's an actual "technical stop" because the ticket shows individual segments each with a fare basis.

I tried to force a stop but it forced a different routing with additional stops (and double the $$$ :( )

This is correct. It is solely a technical stop. ET does not have rights to transport passengers from FCO to IAD. One cannot book the FCO-IAD segment individually.

Roger that. Just double checking. At least she will get the line for her Flight Memory ^

It's not "technical stop" per se, but local traffic is prohibited, so the 2 flights must appear together (or be booked as a single through flight):

[KVS Availability Tool 6.9.8/Diamond - Amadeus Operational Info: ET 500/29 Mar 2012]

I flew this flight last summer and no passengers are allowed on or off the plane. Other then the porters who come on to freshen things up, I believe they switched out crews also as we had new flight attendants serving us.

Also, I believe they fuel the plane as well... which I do not understand why unless we are loaded down with tons of extra cargo in the hold and the winds are not in our favor. ET flies 777-200LR's which have more then enough range to make that run.

Is it just the range /headwinds that is the issue with this stop?

Seems expensive to lay up crews here every flight . . .

Thanks to KVS and bthobe for the additional info!

It's interesting that they aren't interested in selling some FCO-ADD RTs. I can understand Italy saying no potentially to FCO-IAD, but still! I'll bet it is the crazy departure/arrival times preventing them from having local traffic due to no customs officials being available.

On a random side note, before ET started using 777's on this route, they used to use 767-300ER's which needed to make the stop going both directions in FCO.

Very interesting. That being said, they have 777-LRs which should be able to make it no problem, right? Would they have to be weight limited to make it?

In 2007 or 2008 they were definitely selling FCO-ADD as I was on such a flight, connecting from somewhere else in Italy.

What time was the departure? 4:25am like it is now?

Additional note: my friend did buy this ticket this week. I'm super jealous!

More like 2 am. Still depressing time to board a plane

Hijacking this thread because Ill be flying ADD-YYZ with the technical stop in FCO.

Has anyone experienced this kind of flight? It seems a bit brutal with the landing at 4am, I guess they will have to wake everyone up before landing?

Also, what is the food schedule on this flight? I guess dinner after the 11pm departure. Then is there anything served before landing or after departure in FCO, and what? And then before landing in YYZ at 8am, do they serve breakfast or a lunch type snack?

Really such a weird flight lol