Ethiopian Airlines has announced the suspension of its flights to Eritrea, effective from September 3, 2024.
In a statement, the airline cited the “difficult and uncontrollable situation” in Eritrea as the primary reason for the suspension, leading to the cancellation of all flights between Addis Ababa and Asmara.
The airline assured affected passengers that they would be allowed to rebook their tickets on alternative airlines without any additional charges.
Ethiopian Airlines emphasized that it will not raise ticket prices due to the flight suspension.
This development follows a previous ban imposed by Eritrea, which restricted Ethiopian Airlines from flying to Asmara after September 30, 2024.
The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement a month ago, accusing Ethiopian Airlines of “organized and systematic theft of luggage, unreasonable price increases, harassment, and non-payment of compensation” to passengers traveling to Asmara.
In response to these allegations, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, firmly denied the claims made by Eritrean officials.
He expressed the airline’s commitment to engaging with the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority in a constructive dialogue to resolve the issue.
“We still urge the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority to reconsider their decision. If not, it is the travelers to Eritrea who will ultimately suffer,” Mr. Tasew added.
Ethiopian Airlines had resumed flights to Eritrea in 2019 after a two-decade hiatus due to the prolonged conflict between the two nations.
The resumption of flights was seen as a significant milestone in the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, following the rise to power of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The inaugural flight, a Boeing 787, carried approximately 250 passengers to Asmara, symbolizing the renewed ties between the two countries.
In other news, Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced a record profit of $7 billion for the current Ethiopian fiscal year (2016 E.C.).
CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew highlighted that this figure represents a 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with the profit amounting to 402 billion Ethiopian birr.
The airline also reported a 19 percent increase in flight hours, totaling 577,746 hours, and handled 17.1 million passengers, of which 13.4 million were international and 3.7 million were domestic.
The United States, the world’s leading superpower, has honored Ethiopian Airlines with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award, signed by President Joe Biden, was presented during the 8th Annual Galla Dinner, hosted by the Black IAM organization at the Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel.
President Biden presents Lifetime Achievement Awards to institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions to the American people.
