Ethiopian Airlines, the state-owned carrier of Ethiopia, announced the suspension of its flights to neighboring Eritrea, citing unspecified challenging operating conditions.
Eritrea had earlier declared plans to halt all Ethiopian Airlines flights by the end of the month.
In 2018, flights between the two nations resumed after a 20-year break, following a peace agreement that reestablished diplomatic ties and ultimately earned Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the Nobel Peace Prize.
According to five diplomats, the flight suspension signals a significant deterioration in relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia, though the likelihood of renewed conflict remains low for now.
The two nations previously cut ties in 1998 when a two-year war broke out over a disputed border.
While Eritrea had aligned with Ethiopia during the Tigray conflict in November 2020, tensions resurfaced after Eritrea was left out of peace negotiations that ended the conflict two years later, and due to the continued presence of Eritrean troops in the Tigray region.
“Ethiopian Airlines regrets to inform its valued customers travelling to/from Asmara that it has suspended its flights to Asmara effective Sept. 3 due to very difficult operating conditions it has encountered in Eritrea that are beyond its control,” Ethiopian Airlines announced late Monday.
Ethiopian Airlines also assured passengers that it would attempt to rebook them on other airlines at no extra cost or provide refunds, though it did not elaborate on the specific difficulties faced.
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Africa’s largest carrier by revenue and profit, Ethiopian Airlines, is recognized by the International Air Transport Association.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: South African police kill six murder, extortion suspects in Durban shootout