Battle for East Africa: How Ethiopian Airlines got ahead of Kenya Airways

Africa is a diverse market, typically characterized by four distinct regions: North, East, West, and South. Each region has at least two large national markets with decent national carriers, domestic connectivity, and flights to several international destinations. While it is seen as a continent with immense potential, it faces unique challenges that hinder its growth. The lack of connectivity created by restrictive air service agreements, high costs and taxes, insufficient infrastructure, and political interference are among the challenges that have stopped African airlines from growing and becoming profitable. However, Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has seen an incredible success story. While it was not always Africa's largest carrier, it slowly outgrew other national airlines, including its East African rival, Kenya Airways. While there are many players in East Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia dominate the market. Starting from the early 2000s, the countries and their national carriers were regarded as ambitious, well-managed operations with potential for further growth. However, over the last two decades, Ethiopian Airlines has significantly outgrown Kenya Airways, and their competitive rivalry has become a thing of the past.<br/>