Ethiopian Airlines suspends flights to Tigray amid renewed conflict fears

Addis Ababa,  Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all scheduled flights between the capital Addis Ababa and airports in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, as fresh clashes erupt between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters, raising fears of renewed conflict in the northern part of the country. The suspension affects flights to major regional hubs including Mekelle, Axum, Shire, and Humera, where passengers reported receiving cancellation notices citing unplanned circumstances. The Airline staff told passengers to seek further assistance from travel agents amid uncertainty over when services might resume.

Addis Ababa,  Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all scheduled flights between the capital Addis Ababa and airports in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, as fresh clashes erupt between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters, raising fears of renewed conflict in the northern part of the country. The suspension affects flights to major regional hubs including Mekelle, Axum, Shire, and Humera, where passengers reported receiving cancellation notices citing unplanned circumstances. The Airline staff told passengers to seek further assistance from travel agents amid uncertainty over when services might resume. The airline has not released an official statement explaining the duration of the suspension, and internal staff told allAfrica.com the situation was unclear, with possible flights showing in the system for the following day. The Tigray region was the centre of a devastating war between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) from November 2020 until a peace agreement in late 2022. That conflict led to massive humanitarian crises, and air services to the region were halted for more than a year before resuming after the peace deal. However, renewed clashes have erupted in recent days particularly around Tsemlet in western Tigray, where federal troops and allied regional militias have reportedly engaged Tigrayan forces disturbing the fragile peace. For now, the suspension remains indefinite with no official timeline provided by Ethiopian Airlines or the government for when flights might be reinstated. Aviation observers say restoration of commercial links will largely depend on improvements in security and political stability in the region.