Eritrea has issued orders blocking Ethiopian Airlines flights to and from Asmara, with the ban set to be fully effective by the end of September 2024. The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority has blamed Ethiopian Airlines for “consistent and malicious trading practices.” One of the reasons cited for the decision was the alleged occurrence of “organized and systematic passenger baggage theft and pilferage.” The statement from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority also notes that prolonged delays and losses with no compensation, coupled with unjustified and unwarranted price hikes and other irregularities, were observed.
Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed receiving a notice from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority via a letter dated July 21, 2024. The notice indicates that all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea will be suspended, effective September 30, six years since the Airline resumed flights to Asmara. The airline stated that it is seeking clarification from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority and “is committed to resolving any issues amicably and promptly.”
There are 10 flights per week flying from Addis Ababa to Asmara. In addition to Ethiopian Airlines, Saudi Arabian, Turkish, and Egyptian airlines also have regular flights to Asmara. Following Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s recent visit to Italy for the Africa-Italy Summit, an agreement was reached to allow Italian airlines to resume flights to Eritrea.
Flights from Ethiopia to Eritrea resumed in 2018 after two decades, following a peace deal between the two neighbors. At that time, the leaders of the two countries signed the “Asmara Declaration,” which paved the way for the resumption of land transport, trade, and communications services. Currently, the entire road border between the two countries is closed, but telephone communication services continue.
Ethiopia and Eritrea made peace in 2018, formally ending their border conflict.
However, following the truce signed by the federal government and Tigrayan leaders to end the war in the north of the country, relations between the two countries have become strained.
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