Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Monday! Coffee's ready, and we're starting the week strong. Three things on the menu today: a massive infrastructure project that will reshape African aviation, a mileage sale that looks tempting (but requires caution), and a surprisingly good cash deal to the Maldives.
Here's what's inside today's post:
Ethiopia's new Addis Ababa airport plan (and why it's a big deal)
Avianca LifeMiles bonus sale (buy miles promo)
Cash deal spotlight: Milan ↔ Maldives in Gulf Air business class for ~$1,900 roundtrip
Ethiopia's new Addis Ababa airport plan (and why it's a big deal)
Ethiopia is moving forward with plans for a brand-new major airport near Addis Ababa — designed to take pressure off today's congested Bole International Airport and (more importantly) to future-proof Ethiopian Airlines' role as the connecting hub between Africa, the Middle East, and beyond.
Bishoftu airport rendering
What's been announced (scope + timeline):
The new airport is planned for Bishoftu, roughly 45 km (28 miles) from Addis Ababa.
The target is a mega-hub handling around 110 million passengers per year (that number alone tells you this isn't a "nice upgrade" - it's a global-scale bet).
Reporting around the project puts the price tag around ~$10 billion, with an initial target around 2029 for completion, and the concept includes four runways.
Why it matters for Ethiopian Airlines (and the region):
Ethiopian has built an insanely effective network strategy: funnel traffic through Addis and connect Africa ↔ Europe / Middle East / Asia / North America / South America with schedules that actually work. A bigger, modern airport is basically a force multiplier: more gates, more arrival/departure waves, better on-time performance, and space for the premium ground experience to catch up to the airline's ambition.
What this means for travelers (the practical takeaways)
1) Better connections (and fewer "tight squeeze" airport moments)
If you've connected through ADD lately, you already know the airport can feel stretched. A new hub built for scale should mean smoother transfers, more predictable minimum connection times, and more resilient operations when weather or delays hit.
2) More one-stop routings that actually make sense
This is the underrated part: bigger hubs create more viable itineraries. Expect more "one-stop" options between secondary cities (think: regional Africa + smaller Europe/Middle East cities) because the hub can support additional banks of flights.
3) Real upside for premium passengers
New airports are where airlines typically upgrade the entire premium story: lounges that aren't packed, better fast-track flows, proper premium drop-off and curb experience, and (fingers crossed) a ground product that matches what you're paying for up front.
I am super excited to see how Africa gets its new biggest airport!
Avianca LifeMiles bonus sale (buy miles promo)
LifeMiles is back with one of those promos that looks like a cheat code… if you know what you're booking.
Use LifeMiles to book Lufthansa First Class
The promo, in plain English
Bonus is tiered, up to 160% depending on how many miles you buy:
1,000–15,000 miles: 140% bonus
15,000–50,000 miles: 150% bonus
101,000–200,000 miles: 160% bonus
Base price is $33 per 1,000 points, and at the 160% tier the effective cost works out to about $12.70 per 1,000 points. The promo runs until Monday, January 19, 2026 (11:59pm ET), and the purchase cap is up to 200,000 miles bought (before bonus), which can total up to 520,000 miles after bonus.
When it's worth it / when it's not
Worth it when:
You've found award space that LifeMiles can actually ticket, and you're buying miles to book.
You're booking simple itineraries (one-way, nonstop, or clean 1-stop) where LifeMiles' sometimes-temperamental engine is less likely to break.
The cash alternative is expensive (last-minute flights, peak season, long-haul premium cabins).
Avianca LifeMiles has been devalued recently, but still holds up great value for some redemptions, especially First Class on products like ANA or Lufthansa. If you manage to find space, it can be a great way of booking them.
Not worth it when:
You want to be flexible for changes and cancellations, because their phone customer service is terrible, and waiting times can be hours long. So if you don't want to mess up your life, don't do it unless you are certain you want to take that flight.
3 example redemptions that can be strong value with LifeMiles
A quick warning: LifeMiles pricing and availability can be inconsistent (and can change without much notice), so treat these as "real-world examples people are seeing," not eternal rules.
US ↔ Europe in business class
Pricing shows for many routes ~80k + $29 USD one-way in business. That is not bad value if you're replacing a $3,000–$6,000 cash ticket — especially if you buy miles at $12.70 per 1,000.
Melbourne to Bangkok in business (Thai Airways): 50,000 LifeMiles one-way + ~$74 USD in taxes
That's crazy value for a 9-hour flight. That's the kind of "outsized" value LifeMiles can still offer when availability shows up.
Use LifeMiles to book Thai Airways Business Class
Star Alliance long-haul business when you spot real saver space
LifeMiles' whole appeal is buying miles when you see a seat you can't easily get elsewhere. Just remember: the booking engine can show errors or phantom space, so always verify before buying.
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Cash deal spotlight: Milan (MXP) ↔ Maldives (MLE) in Gulf Air business class for ~$1,900 roundtrip
We just discussed this deal with Dan and we love it! It is a great way to get to the Maldives in style! Those tickets usually go for much more money, but in this case, the prices are great.
Gulf Air A321neo business class cabin
What makes it interesting:
You're looking at roughly €1,611 roundtrip (call it ~$1,800–$1,900 depending on the day's exchange rate) for business class between Milan and the Maldives.
Availability runs scattered through July 2026, and importantly: you don't need a long minimum stay (so it can work even if you're not doing a two-week honeymoon).
What's the routing and the onboard product?
This routes via Bahrain (BAH) on Gulf Air. The standout for me is that both legs are operated by A321neo with lie-flat seats in a 2-2 layout (so: not a "recliner business class" situation). Gulf Air offers a very generous 40kg baggage allowance on this fare.
Booking advice (what to check before you buy)
Before you hit "purchase," run through this quick checklist:
Layover length in Bahrain: short stops are fine, but you could also have a long layover and get to know the city!
Fare rules: especially refundability/changes and how Gulf Air handles schedule changes.
Positioning flights: if you're not already in Milan, price the add-on separately and pad time (and ideally overnight) to avoid domino delays.
That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Wednesday.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi