Eritrea suspends Ethiopian Airlines Flights, citing luggage theft and price hikes

Ethiopian Airlines has ceased operating any flights into Eritrea’s airspace as of right now after a suspension from the Eritrean authorities.

Ethiopian Airlines was accused by the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority of engaging in “consistent and persistent malicious trading practices” in a statement.

The airline was also accused of conducting a “systematic and organised passengers’ luggage theft, pilferage, damage, prolonged delays and loss with no compensation in particular, coupled with unjustified and unwarranted price hikes and other irregularities witnessed” .

According to the authorities, Ethiopia Airlines was suspended after  “repeated and relentless calls” for them to address the mistakes and other irregularities imposed on travelers.

Ethiopian Airlines announced on social media that it has received notification from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority to suspend all of its flights to Eritrea, with effect from September 30.

The airline stated, “We have not been given the precise reasons for this suspension,” and that it was requesting an explanation from the Eritrean government.

The airline’s spokesperson, Hanna Atnafu, told Reuters that the flight stoppage was unexpected.

“What is shocking and saddening to our airlines was just 15 days ago, on July 8, there was a letter sent to (us) requesting, to increase our weekly flight frequency from 10 flights to 15,” Atnafu stated.

Recently, travelers have expressed dissatisfaction over occasionally paying more than $800 for plane tickets for a one-hour return trip, which is considered excessive and unjust.

The final blow may have also been the airline’s recent policy change mandating that all ticket sales outside of Ethiopia be made only in US dollars.

All Ethiopian Airlines passengers headed towards Eritrea were requested by the Eritrean authorities to modify their flights and then search for alternative routes.

Airlines from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia often fly to Eritrea.

According to the International Air Transport Association, a global trade association. Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest airline in Africa by revenue and profit