Ethiopian Airlines Cancels Asmara Flights in Response to Today’s Announcement of an Eritrean Government Directive, With effect from September 3, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines has halted all flights to and from Asmara, a noteworthy occurrence that has sparked concerns throughout the area. The airline’s activities have been suspended due to a government decree, which has exacerbated the growing operating difficulties in Eritrea.
The suspension was formally announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Eritrea’s Civil Aviation Authority in an article that appeared in the official state daily Hadas Eritrea on July 24. Serious accusations have been made against Ethiopian Airlines in connection with the directive, which requires the airline to suspend operations as of September 30, 2024.
The ban was brought about by Ethiopian Airlines’ alleged “organized and systematic” mistreatment of Eritrean passengers, according to the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority.
The airline was charged by the authority with multiple violations, such as taking other people’s luggage, causing frequent delays in flights and baggage handling, and not paying impacted passengers. The regulator further compounded the dissatisfaction of Eritrean travelers by criticizing the airline for what it considered an unjustifiable hike in ticket pricing.
The Civil Aviation Authority said in an official statement that Ethiopian Airlines’ flights to Eritrea were suspended as of September 30, 2024, “because repeated reminders given to Ethiopian Airlines to resolve the above-mentioned problems did not yield results.”
The biggest and most successful airline in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines, has confirmed the suspension but blamed continuous operational issues in Eritrea for its decision to halt flights before the government’s deadline. The airline, which has long struggled to keep up service to Asmara, stressed that the choice was made with passenger safety and business viability in mind.
Ethiopian Airlines has committed to helping the impacted passengers in the wake of the suspension.The airline is providing free rebooking on other carriers or a complete refund for customers who decide not to fly. Travelers in need of assistance are encouraged to get in touch with the Ethiopian Global Call Center or the closest Ethiopian Airlines office; the airline’s website, has contact information for both.
Ethiopian Airlines has had to halt service to Asmara on previous occasions. Similar operational and regulatory issues forced the airline to temporarily suspend operations in 2020; however, after things settled, operations were resumed. But the current stoppage, which is the result of both operational challenges and the Eritrean government’s direct interference, portends a more serious and possibly protracted disruption.
