Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
Air
Airlines in Ethiopia
the only domestic carrier, with a comprehensive domestic route service and a solid safety
record.
It's well worth considering a domestic flight or two, even if you're travelling on a
budget. While prices cannot be described as cheap (Addis to Bahir Dar is around US$150
one way if bought outside Ethiopia; around US$59 if bought in country) it does eliminate
long, bumpy bus rides. With the lower-altitude flying of the domestic planes and the usu-
ally clear Ethiopian skies, you'll still see some stunning landscapes, too. If you want a win-
dow seat, check in early.
»Standard security procedures apply at all airports, though there'll be more polite groping
than screening at the remote ones. The baggage limit is 20kg on domestic flights. Don't
bring bulky hand luggage as the interiors are quite small.
»Most flights leave from Addis Ababa, but not all are nonstop, which means you can also
jump from one town to another. For instance, most of the daily Addis Ababa-Aksum
flights stop at either Bahir Dar, Gonder or Lalibela en route.
»Buying domestic tickets from an agency on arrival in Ethiopia is always cheaper than
buying them online from outside the country.
»Booking early to ensure a seat is particularly important on the Historical Circuit and dur-
ing major festivals.
»Technically you should reconfirm all domestic flights 72 hours in advance. This is of
course a very good idea, though we've never done this and have never had any problems.
Still, we've heard stories from travellers who've got stuck after not reconfirming.
»Beware that schedules are occasionally forced to change due to weather or mechanical
difficulties, so try not to plan an itinerary that's so tight that it doesn't make allowances for
these changes.
