Cheap flights from London to Addis Ababa

September is the cheapest month on this route, and it lands at the end of the rainy season in the Ethiopian highlands, so you trade a few afternoon showers for lower fares. Fares are listed from September through to July, with August the one month the calendar skips — that gap usually points to heavy demand from the Ethiopian diaspora flying home over the summer. Midweek departures from Heathrow and Gatwick are calmer than Friday and Sunday flights, when weekend trips and family visits bunch up. Book a few months ahead for September and again for the winter holidays, when seats go quickly.

There is non-stop service between the two capitals, and Ethiopian Airlines is the carrier most travellers picture on this route. Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Air Algerie and ITA Airways all bring you in through their own hubs, so you get a longer trip and a second boarding pass. Air Arabia is the low-cost name in the mix, with a leaner baggage allowance and paid extras. Full-service connecting fares usually include a checked bag and meals, and the airline rebooks you if a delay breaks the connection.

Addis Ababa Bole is the airport you land at on this route, and it sits a short ride from the middle of the city rather than far out in the countryside. Taxis and ride-hailing apps meet arrivals, and many hotels will arrange a pickup if you ask when you book — worth doing if you land after dark. Change money at the airport or in town rather than with a driver, and keep small notes for your first day. If you are carrying on to another Ethiopian city or a second African destination, Bole is a busy hub, so leave room between flights.

Currency

ETB (Br)

Power sockets

Type C, E, F, G, J, L · 220 V

Language

Amharic

Emergency number

907, 911, 939

Driving side

right

Calling code

+251

Internet domain

.et

Population of Addis Ababa

5.7 M (2024)

Altitude

2,355 m · high altitude — take the first day slowly

Time zone

UTC+03 (Africa/Addis_Ababa)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport you are leaving from, because Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton and Stansted are nowhere near each other.
• Confirm what your fare includes, especially on the low-cost option, where a checked bag is usually an extra.
• If you book two separate tickets to save money, remember that a missed connection is yours to fix, not the airline's.
• Check your passport validity and the Ethiopian entry rules well before departure.
• Look at the price calendar for September, the cheapest month, before you settle on a summer date.
• Decide whether non-stop is worth it for you, or whether a connection through Istanbul, Cairo or Nairobi suits you better.