A passenger has accused Ethiopian Airlines of discrimination after being denied boarding on a flight to Zambia based on what the airline eventually cited as "travel history."
The passenger, who had a valid visa and booked ticket from Addis Ababa to Ndola, described being subjected to multiple rounds of questioning at the check-in counter. Staff reportedly asked about finances, demanded accommodation letters not required by immigration authorities, and requested employment certificates and educational qualifications - none of which are standard boarding requirements.
After providing the requested accommodation letter and company invitation, the passenger was still denied boarding. When pressed for an explanation, airline staff cited "profiling" that the passenger did not meet.
"I have always thought about Ethiopian Airlines different from everything else in the whole country, professionalism wise and efficiency wise," the passenger wrote in a detailed account posted on social media. "It turns out they are just weakly managed and corrupted."
The airline later sent a written response citing "travel history" as the reason for denial, and refused to provide a full refund despite preventing the passenger from traveling.
Ethiopian Airlines - often regarded as Africa's most professionally run carrier and a rare continental success story - has not publicly responded to the allegation. The airline did not respond to requests for comment.
The incident raises questions about passenger profiling practices at African carriers. Aviation experts note that while airlines maintain the right to deny boarding for security reasons, the criteria must be clearly defined and applied without discrimination.
This story is based on a single passenger's account. No pattern of similar incidents has been independently verified, and Ethiopian Airlines has not provided their version of events. The airline's internal review process, if any, remains unknown.
