Ethiopian Airlines suspended its flights between the country’s capital, Addis Ababa (ADD), and the northern Tigray region on Thursday, Jan. 29, amid reports of clashes that raised fears of renewed conflict.
This has impacted the three airports in northern Tigray where the airline operates: Makale (MQX), Indaselassie (SHC), and Axum (AXU).
What has Ethiopian Airlines said?
The national carrier, which operates all flight routes in the country, told its passengers via text that their flights were cancelled due to “unplanned circumstances”. It also reportedly instructed Makale airport staff not to report for duty.
While Ethiopian Airlines has not issued an official statement regarding the cancellation, a spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that
“As of today [Jan. 29], all flights have been cancelled.”
The BBC reported that buses between Addis Ababa and Tigray were still operating but could also face disruptions.
The war and the fragile peace in Tigray
After a two-year civil war that devastated the region and resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths, the African Union helped to broker a peace deal in 2022 between the central government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), known as the Pretoria Agreement.
In the aftermath of the deal, TPLF wanted its legal status as a political party to be reinstated, as it had been designated as a terrorist group during the conflict. But the process has been delayed and, in conjunction with other lingering disputes, namely over Tigray’s neighbouring Amhara region, has led to a deterioration in relations between the TPLF and federal authorities.
The government recently revoked TPLF’s licence, barring the group from participating in the national elections scheduled for June 2026.
With disagreements also occurring within TPLF, which have resulted in the group splitting into two factions, tensions have been rising sharply in Tigray in the past few months.
The clashes that led to these flight cancellations involved federal soldiers and Tigray fighters and occurred in Mai Degusha, a disputed region in Western Tigray.
Have you been affected by the flight cancellations in Ethiopia? What do you think of the recent developments in Tigray? Share your thoughts in the comments.
