Eritrea suspends Ethiopian Airlines flights following passenger complaints

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner is seen at Asmara International Airport on July 19, 2018, the first Ethiopian flight to Eritrea in 20 years. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

MOGADISHU (HOL) — The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority announced that it will suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, from September 30, 2024. The decision was published in the national newspaper Eritrea Daily, citing the “systematic abuse” of Eritrean passengers as the main reason.

The authority’s statement outlined several grievances with Ethiopian Airlines, including “baggage theft, damage, severe delays, uncompensated property losses, unexplained fare increases, and other irregularities.” Despite the authority’s repeated attempts to address these issues, no satisfactory resolution was reached with the airline.

Eritrean passengers planning to fly with Ethiopian Airlines after September 20 are advised to make alternative arrangements. It is worth noting that Ethiopian Airlines is continuing to sell tickets for flights after the suspension date.

Ethiopian Airlines, which operates five flights a week to Asmara, has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, other airlines such as Saudi Arabian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and EgyptAir continue to offer regular flights to the Eritrean capital.

The suspension follows a recent visit to Italy by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, who reached an agreement with Alitalia to launch direct flights to Eritrea.

In July 2018, air traffic between Ethiopia and Eritrea resumed after a 20-year hiatus due to a border war. The resumption of flights was part of a wider peace initiative after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. The leaders of the two countries signed the Asmara Declaration to facilitate the movement of people, trade and communication services.

Currently, although the border crossings remain closed, communication services between the two countries continue. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have improved after the end of the civil war in northern Ethiopia, when Eritrea allied with the Ethiopian government to fight against the Tigray armed forces.