Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire after Tigrayan forces seized control of Mekelle’s Alula Aba Nega Airport from federal police. The move cuts scheduled air access to Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where the carrier is the only regular airline operator.
The airline linked the disruption to the current situation in Tigray and apologised to passengers, saying it would notify customers when services resume. Reuters-cited reporting and wire-service coverage indicated the airport changed hands overnight, while the status of the other two destinations was less clear. One witness at Mekelle airport described fighters with light weapons ordering staff and civilians to leave, with no gunfire heard during the takeover.
The suspension comes amid renewed tension between Tigrayan forces and federal authorities, with both sides trading blame over the latest clashes. The region was devastated by the 2020-2022 war, and the latest airport disruption has heightened fears of another escalation.