Ethiopian Airlines Moves Refueling Stop To Rome (From Dublin)

Of course ET has a "partner" (Asky) in Lome. I use the term "partner" loosely, since it's just a division of ET in all but name. Giving Lome the prestige of nonstop service to North America, and giving ET connecting traffic from West Africa. A good way of turning what might otherwise be a strategic disadvantage (i.e. a technical stop) into a strategic advantage.

Wasn't FCO replacing DUB as the stopover previously announced?

Question to the community: why are these not necessary to GRU? I have been on LFW-GRU on the past with ET, but now they seem to operate it direct from Addis.

ADD-GRU = 5362nm

ADD-IAD = 6251nm
ADD-YYZ = 6217nm
ADD-ATL = 6694nm
ADD-ORD = 6584nm

That's why.

I was scheduled on this to Atlanta on Nov 2nd to ATL. I booked business class for 85k UA miles.

I randomly checked the United app and saw about a week ago that the stop was FCO. Caused me to cancel the flight as I don’t want a 4 hour redeye and have to get off the plane at 3am or whatever.

I rebooked on Brussels EVB-BRU direct for 45k Etihad miles.

You don't get off the plane during the transit stops.

I remember South African made us get up and unfasten our seatbelts during refueling in Sal though. Effective the same thing. Does Ethiopian do that too?

I took the service from Addis to Chicago, with a refuelling stop in Dublin. The stop was very quick, just to refuel and change crew. We were not required to leave our seats. It was painless.

I think you ended up rebooking for no reason. ET doesn't make passengers get off the plane during fuel stops, and it only takes 45 minutes to put enough fuel in to get to ATL from FCO.

Lately I have seen multiple ET flights leave Dublin late in spite of getting there on time more or less through radar24. I guess the curfew was the last straw.

I wonder if Lyon, Charleroi, or Barcelona would be cheaper to technical stops?

No Ethiopian doesn’t because they not boarding extra passengers
The South African Airways service was one in which additional people board and some passengers disembark. So a different case

IKR, can’t imagine why they didn’t survey OMAAT commenters before making this important change!

Wonder if they might try 5th freedoms again, as FCO is a huge market

We are flying ET to/from CPT for safari. We received notice about 2 weeks ago about the change.

At that time of day? Who wants to arrive at 3am? Or leave around that time?

I've done these refueling stops with Ethiopian.. 45 min on the ground, no one gets off or gets on. It's not a big deal. Too bad you cancelled your trip, not knowing any of the information

I just took a flight from ADD-YYZ last week with the stop in Dublin. It does stop at an ungodly hour. The FCO stop will have the benefit of being much earlier in the flight and will allow for better sleep. We did not need to get off the plane. I was one row from the door, so it was rather cold, but it could not have been any easier.

Don't laugh. I have directly caused laws to be changed.

Please look up the history of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Long ago they used to refuel in Jeddah. I wonder why they moved to Europe. I suppose fuel is cheaper in Saudi. Also the stop will be early in the flight, before anyone is asleep.

I agree that arriving to FCO at 3 am is less than desirable, but departing at 3 am and arriving in the US in the wee hours of the morning? Sign me up! Saves a hotel night and gives you a whole day at your destination.

I along with my 3 college age children and with my sister took Ethiopian Airlines for the first time back in May on their maiden voyage out of Atlanta. My final destination was Johannesburg. As an African American, I've traveled to Africa a few times before on European Airlines (British & France), but I was pleased with the plane, movie selection, service and flight food with flavor :0). Yes the flight food with flavor is absolutely worth mentioning because we like flavor. Lol We did unfortunately miss our Joburg connection due to the Atlanta media hype and other logistics associated with being their maiden voyage, but it was still an overall good experience. The return did involve an early morning refuel stop in DUBLIN at sunrise. Beautiful sunrise picture taken and it was quick and painless. I believe the flight crew also changed at that time and the bathrooms were out of service for a portion of that time as well but again otherwise quick and painless. I definitely plan to fly EA again but Addis Ababa will be my final destination as I have a few places in Ethiopia that I'm looking forward to visiting. I opted to also squeeze in Cape Town during my May trip to Joburg otherwise I would've extended my layover in Addis Ababa! Hopefully the refueling in Rome is also quick and painless as Dublin.