Unlock New Horizons: Ethiopian Airlines Fuels Hyderabad’s Medical Tourism with Direct Flights to Addis Ababa!
Ethiopian Airlines has officially launched a new direct flight connecting Hyderabad to its hub in Addis Ababa, marking a significant step in harnessing the city’s growing status as a medical tourism destination. This new route, which began operations on June 16 from Addis Ababa and June 17 from Hyderabad, aims to facilitate medical travel for patients from across Africa seeking treatment in Telangana’s well-regarded healthcare institutions.
The airline will operate this thrice-weekly service with flight ET 682 departing Addis Ababa on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, while the return flight, ET 683, will leave Hyderabad on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Teklehaimanot G. Yohannes, managing director of International Services at Ethiopian Airlines Group, emphasized to The Hindu that medical tourism represents a vital growth area for the airline in the Indian market.
“There’s a significant opportunity in medical tourism,” Yohannes stated, highlighting the airline’s established partnerships with leading hospitals in India, particularly in Hyderabad. Ethiopian Airlines is also launching a specialized medical tourism package through its division, Ethiopian Holidays, which aims to streamline travel arrangements for those seeking medical care. Once this initiative is finalized and approved, the airline expects a considerable uptick in patient traffic heading to Hyderabad for medical treatments.
This initiative comes at a time when the healthcare sector in Hyderabad has become increasingly popular among patients from various African nations, drawn by the availability of specialized treatments in fields like cardiology, oncology, nephrology, and organ transplants. The airline’s commitment to this market is underscored by its historical ties with Hyderabad that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it started cargo operations to transport critical medical supplies.
Yohannes noted, “Our cargo operations have evolved to include regular shipments of pharma and IT products from Hyderabad,” underscoring the reliability and precision required for these types of cargo. Ethiopian Airlines has invested in state-of-the-art cold storage facilities in Addis Ababa and uses temperature-controlled containers to ensure that pharmaceutical products are transported securely.
In light of recent aviation safety concerns following the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, Yohannes assured that Ethiopian Airlines prioritizes passenger safety. “We operate 29 aircraft of the same type and have not faced major issues with our fleet. Although the incident in India was unfortunate, aviation remains one of the safest modes of transportation, and we adhere strictly to rigorous safety and maintenance standards,” he stated.
With this new route, Ethiopian Airlines aims not only to enhance connectivity between Ethiopia and India but also to play a pivotal role in fostering medical tourism, reinforcing its position as Africa’s largest airline and a key player in the international air travel market. As the airline continues to expand its services, it seeks to make substantial contributions to health tourism in Hyderabad, ultimately benefiting patients seeking high-quality medical care.
This development not only strengthens Ethiopian Airlines’ portfolio but also elevates Hyderabad’s standing as a prominent hub for medical tourism in the region.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/ethiopian-airlines-bets-on-hyderabads-medical-tourism-with-launch-of-direct-flights-connecting-addis-ababa/article69704281.ece
Category : Hyderabad
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Publish Date: 2025-06-17 16:22:00
