Written By Lisa Murimi
Ethiopian Airlines (EA) has suspended all flights to and from Asmara, Eritrea’s capital, citing “difficult operating conditions” beyond its control.Â
The suspension follows an announcement by the Eritrean government in July, stating that EA would no longer be permitted to operate in the country by the end of this month.
As Africa’s largest airline and the sole operator on the Asmara-Addis Ababa route, EA had been negotiating with Eritrean authorities to address their grievances but to no avail.
The suspension ends a six-year airlink between the two countries, which was reinstated in 2018 after a 20-year hiatus, symbolizing the easing of historic tensions.
The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority had previously accused EA of “malicious trading practices” and listed numerous complaints.
Although EA acknowledged receiving the suspension notice, the specific reasons remain undisclosed.
The sudden suspension has left many travelers concerned, especially those who relied on the flights to connect to other destinations in Africa, Europe, and North America.
The deteriorating relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, particularly following Ethiopia’s civil war in the Tigray region, has raised fears of escalating tensions.
With the airlink now suspended, telecom services are the only remaining connection between the two nations.
