Ethiopian Airlines has unveiled its largest premium lounge to date at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, marking a major upgrade for passengers travelling through Africa’s busiest aviation hub.
The new facility, inaugurated on December 16, 2025, spans 5,500 sq m and represents an investment of more than USD 16 million, with capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 passengers at a time.
The lounge opened following a formal ceremony attended by senior government officials, airline leadership, stakeholders and customers, and is now available to Platinum and Gold members of Ethiopian ShebaMiles, Star Alliance Gold members, and eligible frequent flyers from partner airlines. Ethiopian Airlines Group says the new space is designed to elevate the transit experience for passengers connecting through its growing global network.
A new flagship lounge for Africa’s leading airline
Designed as a world-class facility, the premium lounge brings together dining, relaxation and practical amenities under one roof. The space includes multiple dining and seating areas, bars, an Ethiopian traditional coffee corner, meeting rooms, a children’s room, a beauty lounge, prayer room, quiet room, smoking room, luggage storage and showers, reflecting the diverse needs of both leisure and business travellers.
The design blends locally inspired elements with modern aesthetics, aiming to create an environment that feels distinctly Ethiopian while meeting international expectations of comfort. According to the airline, the lounge has become the largest at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, reinforcing the carrier’s ambition to position its home hub as a competitive global transit point.
Commenting on the opening, Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said: “The opening of this new Premium lounge represents a transformative step in our mission to elevate every part of the travel experience for our passengers. Combining comfort, convenience, and luxury, the facility is set to take traveling through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to the next level. This move further reflects our unwavering commitment to deliver an end-to-end, world-class hospitality to our customers.”
Designed for long connections and global growth
The new lounge opens as Ethiopian Airlines continues to expand its international footprint, operating flights to more than 160 passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport plays a central role in that strategy, serving as the airline’s primary hub and a key gateway between Africa and the rest of the world.
For transit passengers, particularly those facing long layovers, the expanded facilities offer a chance to rest, work or recharge in greater comfort. Quiet rooms and rest areas cater to overnight connections, while meeting rooms and strong connectivity support business travellers moving between regions. The inclusion of an Ethiopian coffee corner also highlights the airline’s effort to showcase national culture within the airport experience.
The lounge is part of a broader push by Ethiopian Airlines to strengthen its premium offering as competition intensifies among global hub carriers. As a Star Alliance member, the airline increasingly serves long-haul passengers connecting between Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, making ground experience a growing differentiator alongside onboard service.
Ethiopian Airlines has built its reputation on rapid expansion and fleet modernisation, operating aircraft including Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s, as well as Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 models. The airline has also received multiple international awards in recent years, including repeated recognition as Best Airline in Africa, underscoring its ambition to compete with established global carriers.
With the opening of its new premium lounge, Ethiopian Airlines signals that the passenger journey does not begin or end in the air. For travellers flying through Addis Ababa, the expanded space offers a more comfortable pause between flights — and a clear statement that Africa’s largest aviation group intends to match its global reach with equally global standards on the ground.
