Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Delhi to Addis Ababa. While takeoff favors the right for Delhi's river and urban sprawl, the landing view from the left—the Ethiopian Highlands escarpment and Addis Ababa's dramatic plateau setting—is more visually distinctive and geographically significant. The left side captures the flight's most striking geographical transition.

During takeoff from Indira Gandhi International (DEL), sit on the Right side for the best views. DEL typically departs runway 09L/27R or 09R/27L depending on wind. Westbound departures (runway 27) favor right-side seats. You'll see the Yamuna River floodplain immediately below, then the Delhi urban sprawl transitioning to agricultural fields. The right side captures the river's meanders and the western expansion of the city. Notable sights include: Yamuna River (visible as a brown ribbon with oxbow bends), Delhi Ridge (low forested hills to the southwest), Aravalli Range foothills (distant southwestern horizon), agricultural patchwork of Haryana state.

When landing at Bole International (ADD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ADD approaches from the northeast typically via runway 03 (landing southwest). Left-side seats face toward the Ethiopian highlands as you descend. You'll see the dramatic escarpment edge and the Addis Ababa plateau terrain. The left side also captures the city's position on elevated terrain and surrounding valleys. Notable sights include: Ethiopian Highlands plateau edge (sharp topographic break), Addis Ababa urban area on elevated terrain, Entoto Mountains (northern rim of the plateau), valleys and gorges of the Great Rift Valley region.

The flight from Indira Gandhi International (DEL) to Bole International (ADD) takes Approximately 5 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses the Thar Desert (visible as tan, sparsely vegetated terrain east of Delhi), then transitions over the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Over central India, you'll see the Deccan Plateau's edge and scattered lakes. Crossing into the Arabian Sea region, the terrain becomes increasingly arid. Over the Red Sea and into the Horn of Africa, the landscape shifts to the Somali-Ethiopian plateau with visible rift valleys and volcanic terrain. The approach to Addis Ababa reveals the dramatic topography of the Ethiopian Highlands, with the city situated on a high plateau at approximately 7,700 feet elevation.