Somalia Threatens to Suspend Ethiopian Airlines Flights

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) raised important concerns about Ethiopian Airlines and its flights in Somalia. SCAA addressed significant concerns regarding violations of Somalia’s sovereignty in relation to the flight routes operated by Ethiopian Airlines.

On August 14, 2024, the SCAA sent a letter to Ethiopian Airlines explaining their worries about how the airline operates flights to Somali destinations. This letter followed ongoing talks between SCAA officials and Ethiopian Airlines representatives in Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation also involved.

Instead of addressing the sovereignty concerns, Ethiopian Airlines changed its flight information. They removed specific names of Somali destinations and now only use airport codes. While this might seem like a small change, it has made the original concerns even bigger.

Moreover, the SCAA has received many complaints from Somali travelers about their experiences with Ethiopian Airlines. These complaints show a gap between what the airline does and what Somali passengers expect, especially regarding respect for their national identity.

The SCAA gave Ethiopian Airlines a deadline: if they do not fix the issues by August 23, 2024, the SCAA will suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Somalia. This means the airline will stop flying to Somalia altogether. The SCAA made it clear that they would suspend flights without warning.

Last month, the Civil Aviation Authority suspended all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea, effective September 30, 2024, due to ongoing operational concerns. The suspension comes after persistent issues plaguing Ethiopian Airlines’ services. Passengers have reported frequent problems with luggage handling, including theft, damage, and loss.

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