Ethiopian Airlines has been granted fifth freedom rights to commence services to Manchester with a stopover in Geneva from November 1. 

The Geneva stopover replaces Brussels, which the airline used to fly to pre-COVID more than two years ago. The flights will operate four times a week using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

With the fifth freedom rights, Ethiopian can carry passengers between Manchester and Geneva. With fifth freedom rights, an airline can carry passengers between two foreign countries outside its home country as long as the flight originates or terminates in its home country.

Flights depart Addis Ababa at 01h15 with an hour stop-over in Geneva. Flight ET728 departs Geneva at 07h15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and arrives in Manchester at 08h05. Return flight ET729 leaves Manchester on the same days at 18h50 and arrives in Geneva at 21h40. It flies on to Addis Ababa where it arrives at 07h30 the next day.