While much of the world’s aviation industry battled turbulence this year, Ethiopian Airlines Group soared to a record $9.1 billion in revenue for the 2025/26 fiscal year; a 20% jump from the year before.The numbers tell a story of relentless growth: 20.7 million passengers carried; up 10% 897,000 metric tons of cargo moved; up 16% 150 international destinations, with 4 new routes added this year. Domestic network expanded from 22 to 25 destinations; 8 new aircraft added to the fleet.What makes this even more remarkable is the environment it happened in. The airline navigated Gulf region conflicts, U.S. travel restrictions, flight suspensions to the DRC, and rising operational costs; expenses were up 25%; yet still delivered a record year.This is what resilience looks like in practice: an African carrier not just surviving global headwinds, but expanding through them. And the ambition doesn’t stop here; Ethiopian Airlines is targeting $25 billion in revenue and 67 million annual passengers by 2035, backed by the new Bishoftu “mega hub” airport designed to handle 60 million passengers a year. Africa’s aviation sector has long punched below its economic weight on the global stage. Stories like this are proof that homegrown carriers can compete; and win; on a global scale.What does Ethiopian Airlines’ growth mean for the future of African aviation and trade?
