(Los Angeles, CA) Today, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced that Ethiopian Airlines, the largest aviation group in Africa and a SKYTRAX certified Four Star Airline, will launch a new first-of-its-kind flight, connecting Los Angeles travelers to West Africa through Lomé-Tokoin Airport (LFW) in Togo. The inaugural flight is scheduled for December 17, 2018. With the launch of this new route, LAX will become one of only two airports in the world to serve six continents with nonstop flights, joining London-Heathrow in this distinction. LAX will be the only U.S. west coast gateway airport with nonstop service to Africa.

“Los Angeles is a global crossroads — a city that connects the world and a place where everyone is welcome,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The start of non-stop service between Lomé-Tokoin Airport in Togo and LAX marks an important milestone in our ongoing work to bring Los Angeles to the world, and the world to Los Angeles.”

"Los Angeles is again leading the way in international travel providing direct options, which ultimately allow passengers to spend more time enjoying their destinations,” said Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson.

“Our airport helps connect the world, and I’m excited that this new service to Africa is yet another way our airport is making getting around the globe more convenient for travelers,” said Councilmember Mike Bonin, District 11. “I congratulate LAX on becoming one of only two airports in the world with nonstop service to six continents, as well as on the continued progress the airport is making to become both a world-class airport and first-class neighbor.”

"LAX continues its non-stop progress by becoming the second airport in the world to have non-stop service to six continents!" said Councilmember Joe Buscaino, Chair of the LA City Council's Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee. "This expansion continues to send the message that Los Angeles welcomes everyone as we continue to embrace more business, more travelers and more destinations to and from the City of Angels."

“At Los Angeles World Airports our mission is to serve the world, connecting people, places and cultures, and on December 17, the world will get that much closer, as LAX celebrates nonstop service to six continents with our new route to Lomé-Tokoin Airport in Togo,” said Deborah Flint, CEO, LAWA. “As someone who spent several of my young years living on the continent of Africa, this route has a special significance to me, and I know it will be embraced by all those who want to travel between our continents to visit family, do business or further explore the world.”

Ethiopian Airlines will service this new route using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most technologically advanced aircraft available. The flight begins/ends in Addis Abada, the capital of Ethiopia.

Flights will be scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays as follows (all times local):

• Depart LAX at 9:35 p.m., arrive LFW at 7:35 p.m. the following day, depart LFW at 12:50 a.m., arrive at ADD at 5:40 a.m.

• Depart ADD at 8:20 a.m., arrive LFW at 11:10 a.m., depart LFW at 12:25 p.m., arrive at LAX at 7:35 p.m.

The flight schedule is intended to maximize connection to major cities in West Africa including Lagos and Abudja, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal; and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Ethiopian Airlines has provided service to Los Angeles since 2015 with a nonstop previously in Dublin, Ireland, which will remain part of the airline’s network. A new route is also planned from Dublin to Addis Abada via Madrid, staring December 16, 2018.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 
LAX, the fifth busiest airport in the world and second in the United States, was named in Skytrax’ 2018 top 10 U.S. airports. LAX served more than 84.56 million passengers in 2017 and offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 700,362 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2017. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues.  The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues. 

LAX is also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund. 

For more information about LAX, please visit  www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter  @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1. Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at www.LAXisHappening.com.   

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.  Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request. 

About Ethiopian Airlines
Started in 1946, Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the flag carrier of Ethiopia. During the past seventy plus years, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivaled in Africa for efficiency and operational success, generating a profit almost every year of its existence.

Operating at the forefront of technology, the airline has also become one of Ethiopia's leading businesses and a veritable institution in Africa. Ethiopian commands a leading share of the pan African network including daily and double daily service of east-west flight across the continent. Ethiopian currently serves 100 international and 21 domestic destinations operating the newest and youngest fleet in Africa.