Foreigners Can Still Pay in Local Currency for Ethiopian Flight

On July 15, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines announced a significant change to its ticket sales policies. Going forward, all international flight ticket sales will now need to be paid for in USD rather than the local Ethiopian currency. Ethiopian Airlines stated that these tickets must be paid for in the currency of the country where the passenger’s journey begins, or in hard currency, regardless of where the ticket is actually purchased. This new requirement applies across the board, regardless of the passenger’s nationality or residency status. Read More…

However, the airline has clarified that there are some exceptions to this new foreign currency rule. Ethiopians and foreigners who have valid legal documents, such as a residence permit, work permit, diplomatic permit, or yellow card issued by the Ethiopian government, will still be able to purchase flight tickets in local Ethiopian currency. However, foreigners buying their tickets in Ethiopia should pay in hard currency.

Ethiopian Airlines is encouraging passengers to reach out to their local ticket offices, travel agents, or the airline’s customer service center if they need any additional details or have questions about these policy changes. It’s important to note that these new foreign currency requirements for international ticket sales are part of broader guidelines being implemented by Ethiopia’s central bank, and apply across the country’s domestic airlines.