The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene by oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane, comprising: a) subjecting a stream comprising ethane to oxidative dehydrogenation conditions, resulting in a stream comprising ethylene, unconverted ethane and light components; b) subjecting ethylene, unconverted ethane and light components from the stream resulting from step a) to distillation, resulting in a stream comprising ethylene and light components and a stream comprising unconverted ethane; c) optionally recycling unconverted ethane from the stream comprising unconverted ethane resulting from step b) to step a); and d) subjecting ethylene and light components from the stream comprising ethylene and light components resulting from step b) to distillation at a top column pressure which is higher than the top column pressure in step b), resulting in a stream comprising light components and a stream comprising ethylene.