Eritrea suspends Ethiopian Airlines flights

The Eritrean government has announced the suspension of all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea, starting September 30, 2024. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Eritrea's Ministry of Transport and Communications made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.  

The Civil Aviation Authority stated that the airline was grounded due to "organised and systematic" abuse of Eritrean passengers, including improper procedures, "theft of passengers' luggage," frequent flight and baggage delays, and failure to compensate passengers. 

It also cited an unreasonable increase in ticket prices as a reason for the suspension.

"Repeated reminders given to Ethiopian Airlines to resolve the above-mentioned problems did not yield results, and from September 30, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea have been suspended," the authority stated. 

The Eritrean government urged those planning to fly with Ethiopian Airlines after September 30 to make alternative arrangements. 

Currently, Ethiopian Airlines operates five flights a week to Asmara. In addition to Ethiopian Airlines, Saudi Arabian, Turkish, and Egyptian airlines have regular flights to Asmara. 

Following a recent visit by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to Italy, an agreement was reached for Italian Airlines to start flights to Eritrea. 

Meanwhile, air travel between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which was interrupted for two decades due to the border war, resumed in July 2010. 

When Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came into office in April 2018, he worked to secure a peace deal with Eritrea. 

Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a historic peace deal later that year to end decades of fighting, earning the former the Nobel Peace Prize. 

However, there are now fears that the progress made could be lost.