Travelers passing through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport now have a new reason to arrive early or linger longer before departure.
Ethiopian Airlines Opens New Premium Lounge At Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Ethiopian Airlines opened its newest premium lounge at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport last month, offering enhanced comfort and amenities for business class passengers, frequent flyers, and eligible elite members. The lounge is part of the airline’s ongoing effort to “elevate every part of the travel experience” and reflect its position as Africa’s most dominant carrier. New lounge features include:
- 5,500 m² (almost 60,00 square feet) of space with capacity for up to 1,000 passengers.
- Cost of $16 million
- Core spaces including:
- Dining and seating areas
- Multiple bars
- Ethiopian traditional coffee corner
- Meeting rooms
- Children’s room
- Beauty lounge
- Prayer room
- Quiet room
- Smoking room
- Luggage room
- Showers
- Access is granted tro ShebaMiles Platinum and Gold members, Star Alliance Gold members, and eligible frequent flyer members of partner airlines
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew explained:
“The opening of this new Premium lounge represents a transformative step in our mission to elevate every part of the travel experience for our passengers. Combining comfort, convenience, and luxury, the facility is set to take traveling through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to the next level. This move further reflects our unwavering commitment to deliver an end-to-end, world-class hospitality to our customers.”
I just completed my Ethiopia trip report, which included a review of the Ethiopian Airlines Sheba Platinum Lounge in ADD. Aviation executive Sean Mendis recently visited the new lounge and sent me some pictures, which I’ve included below. Mendis informs me that the lounge is still not complete, with the media room and beauty lounge yet open.
CONCLUSION
The opening of the new Ethiopian Airlines premium lounge at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport marks a further effort by the carrier to make Addis Ababa a more inviting hub for international travel. With this lounge plus a generous complimentary hotel program for transit passengers, plus (most importantly) a pleasant experience on board, I really think Ethiopian has even more room to grow and further outpace its African rivals. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is slowly becoming the type of airport people actually want to transit in, not just endure because they have to. That’s something to celebrate.
Passed through here yesterday. Definitely some teething troubles i.e. no hot water available at the time for bathrooms/showers. Food and beverage was sufficient at breakfast time – Ethiopian coffee was the highlight. Space is massive and well-appointed, but would benefit from loungers/nap-conducive chairs in a separate area for those classic 4+ hour ET layovers.
Excellent data point. Thanks.
Interesting. It seems that business class passengers get access to the Cloud 9 Lounge while Star Gold and other elites get access to this new Sheba Platinum Lounge. Are there substantial differences?
The old Platinum Lounge is being folded into the Cloud Nine Lounge to create a single larger space for Business Class passengers.