Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled several flights between Addis Ababa and the United States after adverse weather disrupted operations in Washington, D.C., and New York, the carrier announced on Saturday.
In a customer notice, the airline said the cancellations affect four flights scheduled between January 24 and January 25, citing safety concerns linked to deteriorating weather conditions in the two U.S. cities.
“Due to adverse weather conditions in Washington D.C and New York, the following flights have been cancelled,” the airline said.
The affected services include ET 500, scheduled to operate from Addis Ababa to Washington Dulles International Airport on January 24, and ET 501, the return flight from Washington, D.C., to Addis Ababa on January 25.
Also cancelled are ET 514, scheduled to fly from Addis Ababa to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 25, and ET 515, the return service from New York to Addis Ababa on the same day.
Ethiopian Airlines said passengers booked on the affected flights will receive assistance in line with the airline’s customer service policies.
“Affected passengers will be assisted with rebooking, rescheduling, or refunds, as applicable,” the notice said.
The carrier added that it “sincerely apologise[s] for any inconvenience this may cause” and emphasised that safety remains its overriding priority.
“As we continue to prioritise the safety of our passengers and crew, we appreciate your understanding,” the airline said, noting that weather-related disruptions are often unavoidable and can impact flight schedules with little notice.
The Star Alliance member said it is closely monitoring the evolving weather situation and will issue further updates as more information becomes available.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates to our customers as more information becomes available,” the airline said.
Passengers have been advised to confirm their flight status before travelling to the airport. Ethiopian Airlines urged customers to use its official communication channels for the latest information, including its website and mobile application.
Travellers can also contact the airline’s Global Customer Interaction Center or reach out via email for assistance.
“Passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flights prior to travel,” the airline said.
Ethiopian Airlines operates an extensive network linking Africa to North America, with Washington, D.C., and New York serving as key gateways for travellers between the two regions.
Weather disruptions in major U.S. hubs can have knock-on effects across international schedules, particularly during the winter season.
The airline did not indicate when normal operations on the affected routes are expected to resume but said further communication would be issued as conditions improve.
