Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Guest Unveil Reciprocal Loyalty Benefits for Frequent Flyers

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier and a powerhouse in the continent’s aviation sector, has announced a new milestone in loyalty program collaboration by integrating its ShebaMiles program with Etihad Airways’ Etihad Guest. The partnership, rolling out from October 2025, promises to reshape the landscape of frequent flyer rewards — a move set to bring strategic advantages for Africa’s aviation and hospitality industry.

For over 26 years, ShebaMiles has been the backbone of Ethiopian Airlines’ loyalty efforts. With a membership exceeding 5.38 million, the program is a testament to the carrier’s enduring appeal and robust network. ShebaMiles operates on a four-tier system — Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum — each offering enhanced benefits as passengers ascend through the ranks. The program has consistently focused on delivering value, engagement, and recognition, particularly for its premium members who are the mainstay of the airline’s steady growth across Africa and beyond.

The new partnership with Etihad Guest, which itself boasts more than 12 million members and has been a key player in the international loyalty arena for 19 years, marks a significant expansion for the ShebaMiles community. Etihad Guest features a five-tier structure — Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and the exclusive Emerald. This cooperation not only expands Ethiopian’s network reach but also positions its loyalty program alongside one of the world’s most dynamic airline reward systems. Notably, Etihad Guest has built the largest portfolio of airline partners outside of any formal alliance, now with 26 partners, offering unmatched reward opportunities for global travelers.

On the occasion of the partnership announcement, Ethiopian Airlines’ Group Marketing Vice President, Mrs. Rahel Assefa, emphasized the airline’s dedication to customer-centric innovation. She noted that the collaboration is designed to “expand our passengers’ connectivity and flexibility in earning miles,” underscoring the ongoing mission to enhance the travel experience through innovative and meaningful alliances.

For the African aviation and hospitality sectors, the impact of this partnership extends far beyond mileage accrual and redemption. Ethiopian Airlines, already a leading member of Star Alliance and maintaining cooperative ties with 25 member carriers, is further cementing its reputation as a regional and global connector. In addition to its African partnerships and its strategic cooperation with Gol Airlines in Brazil, Ethiopian continues to build bridges across continents, making its loyalty scheme increasingly attractive to business and leisure travelers alike.

Etihad Guest Managing Director, Mark Potter, welcomed Ethiopian Airlines into the fold, spotlighting the expanded benefits and opportunities this partnership brings to Etihad’s growing African network. He highlighted how the new collaboration delivers greater choice, flexibility, and seamless connectivity for members, especially in light of Etihad’s new direct flights linking Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi. This development not only fortifies ties between the Middle East and Africa, but also serves as a catalyst for further business and tourism growth between the regions.

Both ShebaMiles and Etihad Guest offer extensive avenues for members to earn and redeem miles — not just through airline tickets, but via a wide array of non-airline partnerships. These include collaborations with financial institutions, hotels, car rental agencies, shopping centers, and the availability of co-branded credit cards and points exchange programs. For African aviation professionals, this diversified reward ecosystem signals a growing trend where loyalty is leveraged across multiple sectors, stimulating passenger engagement and cross-industry spend.

For premium members, the new arrangement is particularly noteworthy. Travelers will experience consistent recognition and seamless benefit delivery when moving between networks, ensuring elite status advantages are honored whether flying Ethiopian or Etihad. Such harmonized service standards are vital for winning and retaining high-value clients, a segment that is increasingly discerning and eager for frictionless global mobility.

The agreement comes as African aviation eyes a future marked by greater integration, innovation, and digital transformation. The reciprocal loyalty initiative is emblematic of a broader shift toward customer empowerment, reflecting global consumer demands for flexibility and personalized experience. As business travel rebounds and intra-African tourism gains traction, partnerships like this will be central to attracting new clientele and encouraging repeat business across the continent’s airlines and hospitality operators.

Moreover, with the expansion of direct routes between Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi, African travelers gain improved access to Middle Eastern, Asian, and global markets. This increased connectivity is likely to drive up demand for ancillary services in accommodation, ground transport, and destination experiences, fueling ancillary revenue streams for travel businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. The reciprocal loyalty benefits thus play a catalytic role in the broader ecosystem, creating new touchpoints for customer engagement and value creation.

This partnership also sets a precedent for other African carriers, highlighting the importance of collaborative strategies in a market where customer loyalty is increasingly hard-won. As more airlines look to innovate and differentiate their offerings, expect further alliances that bridge regional strengths with global reach, making Africa’s aviation industry more competitive on the world stage.

In summary, the new ShebaMiles and Etihad Guest partnership is more than the sum of its parts. It enables frequent flyers to enjoy enhanced flexibility, expanded earning power, and a seamless recognition experience across two dynamic networks. For Africa’s travel sector, it signals yet another step towards a future where loyalty, connectivity, and customer-centricity go hand in hand, driving business transformation and unlocking new avenues for growth in the coming years.