FLIGHT: ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES HEATHROW- ADDIS ABABA- LILONGWE

THE flight I flew Business Class on Ethiopian Airlines' A350 Airbus. Business Class travellers have access to Lufthansa's lounge in Heathrow Terminal Two.

pre-boarding Terminal Two was busy but not crammed. Passengers, all masked, formed orderly lines and there was a palpable sense of excitement, maybe in part because the UK had put several African countries including

South Africa, my ultimate destination after Malawi, on its Red List a couple of days earlier. It felt like we were all pulling off a great escape!

THE check-in The efficient ground crew team made brisk work of checking us in. My negative RT-PCR certificate was cross-referenced with my passport, my boarding pass issued and my bag tagged. My pre-travel stress evaporated with the words: "Have a good flight Mrs Hartridge, fast track through security and you are good to go".

THE seat I was welcomed onboard with a smile by crew draped in beautiful Habsha, the traditional

Ethiopian attire. My seat, 3L, was extremely comfortable with wide arm rests that allowed a deep recline. The wrap-around desk surface space was very generous and I was able to work productively, without feeling cramped. After dinner and a movie, I morphed the seat into a comfy lie-flat bed.

THE service Onboard service was satisfyingly classic and began with a hand-poured mimosa followed by an antipasto salad starter, succulent steak and a robust Ethiopian Rift Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. After forty winks I woke to sunrise peeking through the windows and wafts of strong Ethiopian coffee. I made use of the wellconsidered personal travel safely kit: surgical mask, hand-sanitiser and wipes, plus personal grooming paraphernalia.

THE Transit During the short transit in Addis Ababa I stepped into the calm of the Cloud 9 business class lounge for an invigorating power shower before boarding a B737-800 aircraft for the three-hour regional hop to Lilongwe.

Lunch was followed by a dessert trolley with confectionery, cakes, fruit and cheese, port, wine and liqueurs.

THE verdict The crew were very attentive – I could see why the airline picked up so many awards this year.

THE details Ethiopian flies from London and Manchester. Return fares from around £650 in Economy and £2,100 in Business. ethiopianairlines.com