In a move that links urban mobility with international air travel, Yango Ethiopia has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines Group to allow ride-hailing customers in Addis Ababa to earn miles through the national carrier’s ShebaMiles loyalty program.

The partnership, announced on July 9, marks the first of its kind in the Ethiopian market, integrating day-to-day ground transport with airline rewards. Yango, a subsidiary of the global tech firm Yango Group, is rolling out the initiative in an initial trial phase, targeting digitally engaged users through a social media competition from July 15 to 31.

Under the pilot program, ShebaMiles members who record and share their Yango ride experiences on Instagram or TikTok—while tagging Yango Ethiopia—will have the chance to win mileage rewards. The top three participants will be awarded ShebaMiles, with the first-place winner receiving 12,000 miles, second place earning 6,000 miles, and third place taking home 4,000 miles. In addition to the rewards, winners will also be featured on Yango Ethiopia’s official social media platforms.

Dr. Yekenalem Abebe, Yango Ethiopia’s Country Manager, described the collaboration as “a step toward making everyday travel more rewarding.” He added, “By bridging the gap between ground and air travel, we are not only making movement around Addis Ababa more convenient but also ensuring that our customers can get more value from the trips they take.”

This partnership reflects a broader trend in African cities, where digital ride-hailing platforms are increasingly integrating loyalty schemes and cashless incentives to drive user retention. In Addis Ababa, ride-hailing services like Yango, Ride, and Feres are rapidly reshaping how commuters navigate congested roads and rising fuel costs.

The ShebaMiles program—launched by Ethiopian Airlines to reward frequent flyers—has been steadily expanding its scope. In recent years, Ethiopian Airlines has partnered with hotels, telecom operators, and shopping platforms. The move to now include ride-hailing services like Yango signals a strategy to embed ShebaMiles in a broader lifestyle ecosystem.

Yango’s collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines may also be viewed as a response to intensifying competition in Ethiopia’s urban mobility space. With dozens of ride-hailing platforms operating in the capital, partnerships and unique user benefits are becoming key differentiators.

The choice to kick off the partnership with a social media campaign points to the increasing role of digital engagement in marketing mobility services to Ethiopia’s young, tech-savvy population. Over 65% of Ethiopian internet users are under 35, a demographic highly active on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

While the partnership is currently limited to a competition phase, both companies have signaled that further integration and benefits could be rolled out in future stages. Full participation guidelines will be published on Yango Ethiopia’s official social media pages in the coming days.

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Yango Ethiopia Partners with Ethiopian Airlines to Let Riders Earn ShebaMiles