Ethiopian Airlines is perplexed and “seeks clarification” after Eritrea suspends its flights effective September 30

• The Eritrean authorities have suspended all Ethiopian Airlines flights into their airspace effective September 30.
• In a letter circulating online, allegedly written by the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority, the Eritreans accused the airline of consistent and persistent malicious trading practices.
• The letter also accused the passengers of systematic and organized theft, looting, damage, prolonged delays and loss of luggage without special compensation.
• It also accused the airline of unjustified and unjustified price increases and other irregularities.
• Following the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights to Asmara on July 17, 2018.

In a surprise move that has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, Eritrea has announced the suspension of all Ethiopian Airlines flights to the East African country.

Ethiopian Airlines said it was “currently seeking clarification from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority and was committed to resolving all issues amicably and promptly.”

The national airline confirmed receipt of a communication from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority by letter dated July 21, 2024, announcing the suspension of all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea effective September 30, 2024.

Eritreans say the suspension comes after repeated requests from the airline to fix the problems mentioned and advised anyone planning to fly to Eritrea with Ethiopian Airlines to adjust their plans.

However, the airline said it “has not been informed of the exact reasons for this suspension” and promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available. It also stressed that the airline is committed to resolving any issues amicably and promptly.

Earlier today, a letter allegedly written by the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority announcing the flight ban was circulating on the Internet. Eritrea claimed that the decision was based on

“continuous and persistent malicious commercial practices by Ethiopian airlines in general and systematic and organised theft, looting, damage, prolonged delays and loss of passengers’ baggage in particular without compensation, coupled with unjustified and unwarranted fare increases and other irregularities.”

Eritrea also claimed that “repeated and relentless requests to Ethiopian Airlines to correct the above-mentioned pitfalls and other irregularities faced by travellers have so far been unsuccessful.”

Accordingly, Eritrea announced that it would suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea effective September 30, 2024.

Last week, Ethiopian Airlines announced that tickets for passengers travelling outside Ethiopia can only be purchased in US dollars. This policy presents a significant hurdle for Eritrean travellers who have previously purchased their tickets in the local currency.

Ethiopian Airlines offers five weekly flights to Asmara. Other airlines on the route include Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.

After two decades of hostility, flights between Ethiopia and Eritrea resumed in 2018 after the two neighbors signed a peace agreement for which Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Nobel Peace Prize a year later.

After the end of the civil war in northern Ethiopia, diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea were restored. It is worth noting that during the conflict in the north, the Eritrean government sided with the federal government and attacked the Tigray forces.