Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, citing challenging operating conditions. The move follows Eritrea’s announcement that it will end all Ethiopian Airlines flights by the end of the month.
Flights between Ethiopia and Eritrea had resumed in 2018 after a peace agreement ended two decades of conflict and led to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Diplomatic sources suggest the suspension signals a worsening of relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara, though a return to conflict is not anticipated. The two countries had previously severed ties in 1998 due to a border war, and tensions have increased following Eritrea’s exclusion from peace talks that concluded the Tigray conflict.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier by revenue, has offered to assist affected passengers with rebooking or refunds but has not detailed the specific operational challenges. Eritrean officials have yet to comment on the suspension.
