►► PHILIPPINES: Ethiopian Airlines to tentatively launch Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul from June.

[UPDATE 1 MAY] According to AirlineRoute, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) plans to adjust its East Asia operations from 18JUN13, with the tentative launch of 3 new destinations: Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Manila (Philippines) and Seoul Incheon (South Korea).

Until 17JUN13, the Star Alliance member operates 1 daily Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Hong Kong and 3 weekly Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur with a Boeing 767-300ER. From 18JUN13, ET plans to operate the following routes, but with the exception of Manila, they are not currently reflected in the airline’s inventory.

Ethiopian's proposed new routes (GreatCircleMapper)

Ethiopian Airlines (ET): Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh

- 3 weekly 767-300ER

• ET626 ADD0040 – 1320BKK1420 – 1550SGN 763 246
• ET627 SGN2300 – 0025+1BKK0140+1 – 0620+1ADD 763 246

Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur 

- Service increases from 3 to 4 weekly

• ET618 ADD0040 – 1320BKK1430 – 1800KUL 763 1357
  
• ET619 KUL2325 – 0025+1BKK0140+1 – 0610+1ADD 763 1357

Addis Ababa – Hong Kong – Manila

- 3 weekly 767-300ER

- ET does not have local traffic rights on Hong Kong – Manila sector

• ET628 ADD0005 – 1500HKG1600 – 1800MNL 763 246
• ET629 MNL2200 – 2355HKG0055+1 – 0655+1ADD 763 246

Addis Ababa – Hong Kong – Seoul Incheon 

- 4 weekly 767-300ER (Not opened for reservation and not yet reflected in ET Inventory)

• ET608 ADD2315 – 1415+1HKG1515+1 – 1930+1ICN 763 2467
• ET609 ICN2050 – 2335HKG0035+1 – 0635+1ADD 763 1357

Source [AirlineRoute]

Currently ET's system displays 1 daily Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Hong Kong and 3 weekly Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur and 3 weekly Addis Ababa – Hong Kong – Manila. Further changes will be made during the course of the next few weeks. However, these planned services may be altered or not open for reservation due to on-going investigation into the Boeing 787.

[UPDATE 12 FEBRUARY] AirlineRoute states that Ethiopian Airlines has removed its schedule filing to Ho Chi Minh from OAG Schedules. Consequently, ET626 will now TENTATIVELY terminate in Bangkok with the return flight ET627 originating from Bangkok as well.

Stay tuned for further revisions/updates.

[UPDATE 24 MARCH] AirlineRoute reports that as per the 22MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed its planned service launch to Ho Chi Minh, where it will operate 3 weekly Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh sector on board Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. 

Reservation for the 3 weekly flight is now available, however it does not have local traffic rights on Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh sector.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET): Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh

- 3 weekly 767-300ER

• ET626 ADD0040 – 1320BKK1420 – 1550SGN 763 246
• ET627 SGN2300 – 0025+1BKK0140+1 – 0620+1ADD 763 246

Source [AirlineRoute]

[UPDATE 1 MAY]  AirlineRoute has once more updated the status quo with Ethiopian Airlines now set to adjust its planned South East Asia operation from 18JUN13 to 31AUG13. 

Latest adjustment sees the carrier delaying Manila and Ho Chi Minh service launch by 2 and 10 weeks respectively.

Addis Ababa – Hong Kong – Manila 
- Eff 02JUL13 3 weekly (Previously to start from 18JUN13)
- ET does not have local traffic rights on Hong Kong – Manila sector

• ET628 ADD0005 – 1500HKG1600 – 1800MNL 763 246
• ET629 MNL2200 – 2355HKG0055+1 – 0655+1ADD 763 246

Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh 
- Eff 03SEP13 3 weekly (Previously to start from 18JUN13)
- ET does not have local traffic rights on Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh sector

• ET626 ADD0040 – 1320BKK1420 – 1550SGN 763 246
• ET627 SGN2300 – 0025+1BKK0140+1 – 0620+1ADD 763 246