Flight time: Addis Ababa to Milan
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) → Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) · medium haul · europe africa
The flight from Addis Ababa (ADD) to Milan (MXP) takes approximately 6h 22m to 7h 13m gate-to-gate, covering 4,984 km (3,097 mi). This medium-haul europe africa route uses a cruise speed of 780–850 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Addis Ababa (ADD) → Milan (MXP)
- Distance:
- 4,984 km (3,097 mi)
- Flight time:
- 6h 22m to 7h 13m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- medium-haul, europe africa
- Cruise speed:
- 780–850 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia (Africa/Addis_Ababa)
- Destination:
- Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy (Europe/Rome)
Route details
| Origin | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ADD) |
| Destination | Milan, Italy (MXP) |
| Distance | 4,984 km (3,097 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 6h 22m |
| Flight time (high) | 7h 13m |
| Route type | medium-haul, europe africa |
| Cruise speed | 780–850 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | -2h (westbound) |
Distance breakdown: Addis Ababa to Milan
The 4,984-km great-circle distance between Addis Ababa (8.98°N, 38.80°E) and Milan (45.63°N, 8.73°E) spans 36.7° of latitude and 30.1° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 3,097 mi or 2691 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
At 4,984 km, this medium-haul route falls in the operational sweet spot where aircraft reach cruise altitude for a meaningful portion of the flight. Effective cruise speeds of 780–850 km/h are typical, with narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, 737 MAX) handling the lower end and wide-body aircraft achieving speeds at the upper end. The 6h 22m to 7h 13m estimate accounts for approximately 20 minutes of combined climb and descent, with the remainder at efficient cruise altitude.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at ADD, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at MXP, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at ADD are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At MXP, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Addis Ababa and Milan may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Milan → Addis Ababa
The return flight from Milan to Addis Ababa is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
Flight times between Addis Ababa and Milan vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at ADD and MXP, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.
Airport information
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) serves Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is a major international hub in Milan, Italy. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.