Patients and families will now benefit from greater access, shorter travel times, and enhanced convenience — all supported by India's medical visa framework and English-speaking care teams.
Published Jun 19, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 19, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Officials ahead of the first direct flight from Hyderabad to Addis Ababa.
Synopsis: On 17 June, Ethiopian Airlines launched the first-ever direct flight connecting Hyderabad to the African continent, specifically to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Officials said that this would benefit the medical tourists from African nations who visit the city for treatment.
The morning of Tuesday, 17 June marked a historic moment at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport as its senior officials and Ethiopian Airlines gathered for a celebratory ceremony. The occasion: The inaugural departure of the first-ever direct flight connecting Hyderabad to the African continent, specifically to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Airlines flight — operated by Africa’s largest and most prominent airline — successfully departed that evening, carrying with it the promise of strengthened ties between South India and Africa.
This new route represents more than just another destination on the departure board. With three weekly evening departures from Hyderabad, passengers now have access to a seamless six hours and 25 minutes journey.
“Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s vibrant capital, is not only a cultural and historical epicentre but also an emerging hub for business and diplomacy in Africa. This direct connection is expected to facilitate greater opportunities for business, leisure, and tourism travellers, while also opening new doors for trade and investment between India and Africa,” Hyderabad Airport said in its statement.
It added India continues to be a top destination for medical tourism from African countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Cameroon, and Kenya, thanks to its world-class healthcare at affordable costs, skilled doctors, and advanced treatment options in cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, and fertility.
“The launch of the direct flight services by Ethiopian Airlines will further strengthen this vital healthcare corridor, offering patients and families greater access, shorter travel times, and enhanced convenience — supported by India’s medical visa framework and English-speaking care teams,” said the airport in the statement.
Patients and families will now benefit from greater access, shorter travel times, and enhanced convenience — all supported by India’s medical visa framework and English-speaking care teams. Earlier, African people used to depend on Dubai Airport for transit.
“We are delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines passenger services to Hyderabad,” said Pradeep Panicker, CEO of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL).
“This new direct route to Addis Ababa reinforces our commitment to connecting Hyderabad with key international destinations. Africa is an emerging market with increasing strategic importance, and this flight will serve as a critical bridge for commerce, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two regions.”
Addis Ababa serves as both a cultural and historical epicentre and an emerging hub for business and diplomacy in Africa. For business travellers, the flight offers quick access to one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. For leisure and cultural tourists, it presents a gateway to Ethiopia’s rich heritage, landscapes, and unique experiences.
Beyond its primary route, this connection opens doors to a vast network.
Apart from being a cost-effective transit hub and cargo gateway, Addis Ababa offers vital connectivity from Hyderabad to over 125 global destinations, especially across Africa, Europe, and the Americas, making it key to Hyderabad’s growing global reach.
The route also strengthens people-to-people ties and serves the Indian diaspora in Africa, while opening new doors for trade and investment between India and Africa. This direct connection is expected to facilitate greater opportunities for business, leisure, and tourism travellers alike.
The statement said development stands as a testament to GHIAL’s continued efforts to enhance passenger convenience and diversify its international network, positioning RGIA as a preferred choice for global travellers.
It said, as a single-roof integrated terminal, the Hyderabad Airport proudly serves as the best transfer gateway between South East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Numbers tell a compelling story of Hyderabad’s rise as a medical destination. According to the Telangana government, back in 2014, just over 75,000 foreign patients visited Telangana for medical treatment. Fast forward to 2024, that figure has more than doubled, to 1.55 lakh. On the domestic front, a staggering 8.82 crore patients from other Indian states travelled to Telangana last year alone for medical care.
The patient demographics reveal fascinating patterns. Right now, the highest number of patients coming to Hyderabad are from Somalia, largely driven by the close-knit Somali student community in the city.
“Word-of-mouth plays a big role, and once someone has a good experience, it spreads quickly within that network. That ripple effect of trust, familiarity, and results has turned Hyderabad into a trusted hub not just for individuals, but entire communities from East Africa,” said Prem Gokul, head international marketing, KIMS Hospital Hyderabad.
Next on the list are patients from Bangladesh and Sudan, followed by a steady trickle from Oman. This growing inflow has created a substantial economic impact, with Hyderabad’s medical tourism market currently estimated to be worth ₹500 crore, representing the total value of international patients seeking treatment in the city’s hospitals.
The sector is experiencing strong double-digit growth. India’s total medical value travel market has expanded dramatically from $1 to $1.5 billion just a few years ago to between $5 to $6 billion today, even despite geopolitical headwinds in countries like Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which were once major contributors.
The future projections are even more promising, with expectations that Hyderabad’s share could triple in the next three to four years, potentially reaching ₹1,500 crore from the current ₹500 crore.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
