Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir are two African flag carriers in Star Alliance, and both are state-owned full-service airlines. Travellers compare them mainly for journeys between Europe, the Middle East, Asia or the Americas and Africa, where Cairo and Addis Ababa act as rival connecting hubs, and for trips between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Quick verdict
Both are full-service carriers with Business and Economy cabins on long-haul flights and the same alliance, so the choice is mostly about geography. Ethiopian suits travellers heading to sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to a far larger network and fleet. EgyptAir suits those going to Egypt, North Africa or the Middle East, or wanting a short connection via Cairo, and it has begun taking delivery of the A350-900 with a new cabin.
Choose Ethiopian Airlines if…
- You are flying to or within sub-Saharan Africa and want the most onward connections via Addis Ababa.
- You want a larger, growing fleet of 787s and A350s on long-haul routes.
- You collect ShebaMiles or Star Alliance status and want Cloud Nine Business access.
Choose EgyptAir if…
- You are heading to Egypt, North Africa or the Middle East, with Cairo as your hub.
- You want a 787-9 lie-flat 1-2-1 Business seat on a Cairo route.
- You value a generous checked-bag allowance on international Economy fares, to be confirmed at booking.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Ethiopian is built around Addis Ababa Bole, with secondary hubs at Lomé, Lusaka and Lilongwe. It serves 155 passenger destinations, 22 of them domestic, and holds stakes in several African carriers. EgyptAir is centred on Cairo, with Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh as focus cities, and as of June 2026 served 84 international and nine domestic destinations in 56 countries. Ethiopian is stronger for Central, East and Southern Africa; EgyptAir for North Africa and the Middle East.
Fleet and new aircraft
Ethiopian is Africa's largest airline by fleet, with 162 aircraft in July 2026 (including cargo), across A350, 787, 777, 737 and Q400 types. Boeing announced six more 787 firm orders on 20 April 2026. EgyptAir has 71 aircraft and took its first A350-900 in February 2026, with 16 on order. The A350 is replacing the 777-300ER, and the A330s are being retrofitted with the same cabin, so EgyptAir's product is changing.
Cabins and seats
Both offer Business and Economy on long-haul aircraft. Ethiopian's Business is branded Cloud Nine; on the A350-900 it has personal screens with USB charging and a pitch of about 31-32 inches. EgyptAir's 787-9 has 30 lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout and 279 Economy seats. EgyptAir's long-haul aircraft have seatback screens. Details vary by aircraft, so check the seat map for your flight.
Baggage
Ethiopian allows checked bags up to 23 kg each and one 7 kg Economy cabin bag; the number of free checked bags depends on route and fare. EgyptAir international Economy fares commonly include two 23 kg bags, though some promotional fares allow one, with Business at two 32 kg bags and an 8 kg cabin bag plus a personal item in Economy. EgyptAir figures come from aifly.one, so confirm on egyptair.com.
Lounges and loyalty
Both airlines belong to Star Alliance, so status earned with ShebaMiles (Ethiopian) or Egyptair Plus carries partner lounge and priority benefits. Ethiopian's Cloud Nine Lounge is in Terminal 2 at Addis Ababa. EgyptAir has three lounges at Cairo Terminal 3: Alioth, Almeisan and Gienah. EgyptAir joined the alliance in 2008 and is its only MENA-based member.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ethiopian Airlines better than EgyptAir?
Neither is better across the board. Ethiopian has the larger fleet and broader sub-Saharan network, while EgyptAir is the better fit for Egypt, North Africa and the Middle East.
Are Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir in the same alliance?
Yes, both are Star Alliance members. EgyptAir joined in 2008, so miles and status can be used across partner airlines.
Which airline has the better baggage allowance?
EgyptAir international Economy fares commonly include two 23 kg bags, though some promotional fares allow one. Ethiopian's limit is 23 kg per bag, with the number depending on route and fare, so check your ticket.
About Ethiopian Airlines Read more
Overview
Ethiopian Airlines is the flag carrier of Ethiopia. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 21 December 1945 and began operations on 8 April 1946. It is owned by the Government of Ethiopia (Wikidata), is based at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, and is a member of Star Alliance. Its frequent-flyer programme is ShebaMiles.
Network and hubs
The main hub is Addis Ababa Bole. Wikipedia lists secondary hubs at Lomé, Lusaka and Lilongwe, plus Liège for cargo. The airline serves a network of 155 passenger destinations, 22 of them domestic, and 68 freighter destinations. It holds stakes in several African carriers, including ASKY Airlines, Air Congo, Malawi Airlines and Zambia Airways.
Fleet
Ethiopian is Africa's largest airline by fleet. Nairametrics, using Planespotters data, counted 162 aircraft in July 2026. The Wikipedia fleet page (as of November 2025) lists these types:
- Airbus A350-900 (and A350-1000)
- Boeing 787-8 and 787-9
- Boeing 777
- Boeing 737 (including MAX)
- Bombardier Q400
- Boeing 767 (freighter)
Boeing announced on 20 April 2026 that six more 787s had been ordered as firm orders. In mid-May 2026, reports said the airline was in early talks for more A350s and about twenty A220s. These are reports, not confirmed orders. Its Vision 2035 plan aims for 271 aircraft by 2035.
On board
Long-haul aircraft have Business class, branded Cloud Nine, and Economy. On the A350-900, seatmaps.com reports personal entertainment screens with USB charging and a seat pitch of about 31-32 inches in Business. Meal, Wi-Fi and Economy seat details vary by aircraft and route and were not confirmed from an official source.
Good to know
- Baggage: the official baggage page gives a 23 kg limit per checked bag. Economy cabin baggage is one piece of up to 7 kg (official carry-on page). The number of free checked bags depends on route and fare, so check when booking.
- Lounges: Business class passengers can use the Cloud Nine Lounge in Terminal 2 at Addis Ababa and Star Alliance partner lounges (Going).
- Loyalty: ShebaMiles; Star Alliance status benefits apply.
- Fees and punctuality: no published change-fee or on-time figures were verified.
About EgyptAir Read more
Overview
EgyptAir is the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 7 June 1932 as Misr Airlines and began flying in July 1933. It is part of Egyptair Holding Company, owned by the Egyptian government, and is headquartered at Cairo International Airport. It joined Star Alliance in 2008 and is the only MENA-based carrier in the alliance. Subsidiaries include Air Cairo, Egyptair Cargo and Smart Aviation Company.
Network and hubs
Cairo is the main hub, with Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh as focus cities. As of June 2026 the airline served 84 international and nine domestic destinations in 56 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas (Wikipedia).
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a fleet of 71 aircraft in 2026. The airline took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 in February 2026 and has 16 on order, with seven expected by the end of 2026. The A350 is intended to replace the Boeing 777-300ER, while the A330 fleet is being retrofitted with the same cabin. The airline also holds an order for 18 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, with deliveries beginning in 2026 (see One Mile at a Time). Current types include the Boeing 787-9, 777-300ER, 737-800 and Airbus A320 family and A330 aircraft.
On board
Mainline aircraft have Business and Economy cabins. On the Boeing 787-9, Business is a 1-2-1 lie-flat layout with 30 seats, and the aircraft has 279 Economy seats (SeatMaps). The A330 cabins vary by sub-type. Long-haul aircraft have seatback screens; see the One Mile at a Time 787 Business review for details. Meal and Wi-Fi provision was not confirmed from an official source.
Good to know
- Baggage: third-party guides report 2 x 23 kg checked bags in Economy on most international fares (some promotional fares allow one), 2 x 32 kg in Business, and an 8 kg cabin bag plus a personal item in Economy (aifly.one). Domestic flights are reported as one 23 kg bag. Confirm on egyptair.com before travelling.
- Lounges: EgyptAir runs three lounges at Cairo Terminal 3 (One Mile at a Time review).
- Loyalty: Egyptair Plus is the frequent-flyer programme, linked to Star Alliance status benefits.
- Fares and fees: no typical fares, change fees or punctuality figures were found from published sources.
Sources (4)
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