Ethiopian Airlines Nacala flights: ET875 schedule and checks

Ethiopian Airlines plans to start three weekly flights to Nacala on October 27, 2026. ET875 is scheduled to leave Addis Ababa at 09:20, stop in Blantyre, reach Nacala at 14:20, and return from Nacala to Addis Ababa at 15:10. The flights are planned for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The route is not a simple nonstop return service. The outbound routing runs Addis Ababa to Blantyre to Nacala, while the airline's published table shows the return from Nacala to Addis Ababa without an intermediate stop. Ethiopian has not explained whether Nacala-bound passengers leave the aircraft in Blantyre or complete any Malawi formalities there. Get that procedure from the airline for the exact booking before travel.

*Original AI-generated editorial illustration created for Roaming eSIM. The airport, coastline and aircraft are generic and do not depict Nacala International Airport or ET875.*

The practical answer: use Ethiopian's September timetable as the current plan, but recheck ET875 for the booked date. Confirm what happens during the Blantyre stop, ask where checked baggage is tagged, and resolve Mozambique entry permission before departure.

This guide was reviewed on September 17, 2026, the day after Ethiopian published its latest route announcement.

ET875 timetable from October 27

Ethiopian's September 16 announcement gives this schedule:

All times are local. The published rotation gives the aircraft one hour in Blantyre and 50 minutes in Nacala.

The airline says it will use a Boeing B737-8. Its schedule table labels the subfleet ET 738. Those are the airline's own terms, so this guide does not translate them into a more specific variant. Aircraft can also change for operational reasons. Use the aircraft and seat map shown for the live booking as the final check.

The launch has already moved once

This is a future service, not a route that has already begun. AeroRoutes reported in August that Ethiopian moved the planned start from July 16 to October 27. Its earlier filing also showed slightly different departure and arrival times.

The newer Ethiopian announcement now controls the schedule in this guide. The change is still a useful warning: a flight appearing in an announcement or timetable can move before launch. Check that ET875 is still offered on the exact date before committing to a separate positioning flight, hotel or long ground transfer.

When possible, keep the inbound connection and ET875 on one ticket. A protected itinerary gives the airline a clearer obligation to rebook after a disruption than two unrelated reservations do. It does not remove the need for a sensible buffer, especially with a three-times-weekly onward service.

What the Blantyre stop means

The route to Nacala includes a scheduled stop at Blantyre in Malawi. Ethiopian's announcement lists the airport codes and times, but does not publish the passenger procedure.

Do not assume that everyone stays seated, that everyone disembarks, or that no document check applies. Malawi Immigration publishes a transit-visa category, but the existence of that visa does not prove that a through passenger on ET875 needs one. The answer can depend on whether a traveler enters Malawi, changes aircraft, collects baggage or holds a passport that requires prior permission.

Before flying, ask Ethiopian these precise questions:

• Is the itinerary issued as one through flight to MNC?
• Must Nacala-bound passengers leave the aircraft at BLZ?
• Is security screening or immigration required during the stop?
• Will checked baggage remain tagged through to MNC?
• Does the passenger's passport require any Malawi transit document for this procedure?

Keep the airline's answer with the booking. If the itinerary changes to separate flight numbers or a longer connection, check the rules again.

Connecting through Addis Ababa

Many passengers will reach ET875 through Ethiopian's Addis Ababa hub. There is no useful universal connection time for every trip. Terminal movement, security, document checks, mobility assistance, origin airport and whether baggage is checked through can all change the practical margin.

Prefer a connection sold by Ethiopian as one itinerary. At the first airport, confirm that the boarding passes cover the expected sectors and read the baggage tag before the bag leaves the counter. It should show the destination the airline has accepted, not the destination the traveler hopes it will reach.

For a long Addis connection, Ethiopian's current stopover page describes accommodation for eligible 8 to 24 hour connections when Ethiopian operates both flights on one ticket. Visa or entry permission may still matter if a traveler leaves the international transit area. Confirm eligibility at the origin station rather than arriving with an unbooked night based only on a general policy page.

Mozambique entry checks come before check-in

Entry permission depends on nationality, passport type, trip purpose and length of stay. Mozambique's official immigration portal separates visa-exempt travelers, eTA users, eVisa applicants and travelers who must use an embassy. A rule that applies to one passport is not a safe answer for another.

Use the official eligibility table with the passport that will be presented at check-in. The portal says approved preliminary eVisa or eTA documents should be downloaded and printed for boarding and arrival. Its FAQ says an eVisa application requires a passport valid for at least six months and gives approximately five business days as standard processing time. It recommends applying for an eTA at least 48 hours before departure.

Those are portal timings, not a guarantee of approval. Apply with enough room to correct a document problem. If the passport is directed to an embassy, do not substitute an online application or advice written for a different nationality.

Check-in and baggage depend on the issued trip

Ethiopian's current online check-in guidance says the window generally opens 48 hours before departure and closes two hours before the flight. Passengers whose travel documents need verification may still have to use the airport counter. A successful online step does not override an entry check.

The airline's baggage FAQ says the free allowance depends on the route, booked class and fare. That makes a generic allowance unreliable for ET875, especially when another airline operates an inbound sector. Read the baggage line on the issued ticket and manage-booking page.

At check-in:

• Ask whether the bag is accepted through to MNC.
• Photograph the baggage receipt and keep it outside the checked bag.
• Put medication, essential documents, charging cables and one change of clothes in cabin baggage within the fare limits.
• Report a missing bag at the arrival baggage desk before leaving the airport and keep the reference number and receipts.

Mobile data in Mozambique

The live public catalog returned an exact Mozambique eSIM with fixed-data plans when checked on September 17. The lowest listed option was 1GB for seven days at USD 3.90, and the returned package data said that plan supported top-ups. Prices and availability can change, so the current product page and checkout are the final source.

No returned regional or global plan explicitly covered Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique together. The Africa plan included Malawi but did not list Mozambique or Ethiopia. Do not buy it as a route-wide solution for ET875.

For a stay in Mozambique, install the selected country plan on reliable Wi-Fi and follow its activation instructions. The public package record confirmed Mozambique coverage and 3G/4G availability, but did not confirm calls, SMS, a local number, hotspot use or airport-specific reception. Treat those fields as unknown unless the chosen package states them.

An eSIM does not provide inflight Wi-Fi, replace airline alerts, resolve entry permission or guarantee coverage in every building and coastal area. Save the ticket, first accommodation, transfer contact and immigration document offline. Travelers can also check when to install an eSIM, whether a phone supports eSIM and how much travel data they may need.

Ten questions about Ethiopian Airlines Nacala flights

When do Ethiopian Airlines flights to Nacala start?

The current planned start is October 27, 2026. Ethiopian says ET875 will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Recheck the exact date because the launch has already moved once.

Is the Addis Ababa to Nacala flight nonstop?

No. The published outbound routing is Addis Ababa to Blantyre to Nacala. The return table shows Nacala to Addis Ababa without an intermediate stop.

What happens during the stop in Blantyre?

Ethiopian has not published whether through passengers stay on board, pass security or complete immigration. Ask the airline for the procedure tied to the exact booking and passport before travel.

Do I need a Malawi transit visa on ET875?

Do not decide from the route map alone. Malawi offers a transit-visa category, but the need depends on the passenger procedure and passport. Confirm both with Ethiopian and Malawi Immigration.

Can my baggage be checked through to Nacala?

It may be on an eligible through itinerary, but the general baggage page does not promise this for every connection. Ask at the first airport and verify that the printed tag shows MNC.

How long should my Addis Ababa connection be?

Use a connection Ethiopian sells on one ticket and allow extra margin when the trip is time-sensitive. There is no single safe number for every origin, terminal path, document check or mobility need.

Does Ethiopian provide a hotel for a long Addis layover?

The airline currently describes accommodation for eligible 8 to 24 hour connections on one Ethiopian-operated ticket. Confirm the itinerary qualifies and whether entry permission is needed before relying on it.

What Mozambique visa or eTA do I need?

It depends on the passport, purpose and stay. Use Mozambique's official eligibility table and follow the eTA, eVisa, exemption or embassy route it assigns to that passport.

Can I check in online for the Nacala flight?

Ethiopian says online check-in is generally available from 48 to two hours before departure. A traveler can still be directed to a counter for passport, visa or other document verification.

Will one eSIM work in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique?

Do not assume so. The live catalog check found no plan that explicitly listed all three countries. The exact Mozambique country plan is the verified option after arrival in Mozambique.

Before booking ET875

• Match ADD, BLZ and MNC against the intended route.
• Confirm October 27 or the later booked date in the live timetable.
• Keep connections on one ticket when practical.
• Ask what Nacala-bound passengers do during the Blantyre stop.
• Confirm any Malawi transit-document requirement for the passport.
• Check Mozambique entry permission before departure.
• Read the fare's cabin and checked-baggage allowance.
• Verify MNC on the baggage tag at the first airport.
• Leave recovery time before fixed onward plans.
• Save airline, immigration, hotel and transfer details offline.

Sources and update boundaries for ET875

The start date, frequency, flight number, airports, times and planned aircraft come from Ethiopian Airlines' September 16 announcement. AeroRoutes provides the earlier schedule filing and the July-to-October launch change. The newer airline release controls where the times differ.

Ethiopian's current check-in, baggage and stopover pages support the general travel checks. Mozambique and Malawi immigration sources define the entry and transit boundaries. Public traveler discussions were used to choose practical questions, not to prove airline or immigration facts.

This page should be updated after the first flight operates, if Ethiopian changes the timetable, when the airline publishes the Blantyre passenger procedure, or when immigration, check-in, baggage or public product details materially change.

*Route, immigration, baggage and product details were reviewed on September 17, 2026. Recheck Ethiopian Airlines, the relevant immigration authority and the live Roaming eSIM catalog before travel.*