Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 24th, 2024 – Ethiopian Airlines announced on Wednesday a surprising suspension of all their flights to Eritrea, effective September 30th, 2024. This development comes just six years after a peace deal between the neighboring nations led to the resumption of air travel.
The airline received a formal notice from Eritrean aviation authorities but was not provided with specific reasons for the suspension. “Ethiopian Airlines has been actively engaged in serving the Eritrean route since its reopening in 2018,” the airline stated on Facebook.
Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, has not yet responded to requests for comment. This news comes as a shock to the airline, particularly in light of recent communication. “Just 15 days ago, on July 8th, we received a request from Eritrea to increase our weekly flights,” said Hanna Atnafu, spokesperson for Ethiopian Airlines.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier by revenue and profit according to the International Air Transport Association, remains grounded on the Eritrean route for the foreseeable future.
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