Ethiopian Airlines will temporarily suspend flights between Addis Ababa and Atlanta beginning February 2, 2026, as the carrier reassesses demand on its transatlantic routes.

The Addis Ababa–Rome–Atlanta service, launched in May 2023, operated three times weekly with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Westbound flights routed through Rome Fiumicino, offering connectivity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic, and strengthening Star Alliance ties through Ethiopian’s partnership with United Airlines.

The rotations affected are ET518 (Addis Ababa–Rome–Atlanta) and ET519 on the return leg. While schedules had previously indicated the route would continue into the Northern Hemisphere summer, booking systems still show availability from June onward, signalling a temporary suspension rather than a permanent withdrawal.

Following the Atlanta pause, Ethiopian will focus its U.S. operations on Washington Dulles International Airport, where it currently operates up to 11 weekly flights via Rome and Lomé using a combination of Airbus A350-900, A350-1000, and Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

Industry data indicate that softer-than-expected passenger demand and competition on transatlantic flows contributed to the decision. The move reflects broader adjustments by African and global carriers, which are recalibrating long-haul capacity in response to shifting travel patterns, rising costs, and intensified North Atlantic competition.