Ethiopian Airlines Halts Flights to Tigray Amid Renewed Conflict Fears
The national carrier cited escalating fighting between federal and regional forces as the reason for the cancellations.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all flights to the northern Tigray region, citing concerns over escalating fighting between federal and regional forces.
The state-owned carrier announced the cancellations Wednesday morning, impacting service to Mekelle, the regional capital, as well as the cities of Axum and Shire.
No other commercial airlines fly to Tigray, though chartered flights may still be an option.
The cancellations come days after seven opposition groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), announced the formation of a coalition called the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival. The group aims to unseat Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government.
Abiy’s Prosperity Party won a general election in June, though the vote was boycotted by the main opposition parties. The TPLF previously fought federal forces in a conflict that concluded with a peace agreement in November 2022.