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Ethiopian Airline companies says it stops Eritrea flights after account frozen

Ethiopian Airlines stated on Tuesday it had actually suspended flights to neighbouring Eritrea because its checking account there was frozen.

The provider's CEO Mesfin Tasew informed a press conference that the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority had actually blocked cash transfers from Ethiopian Airlines' bank account in the Eritrean capital city Asmara.

Eritrea had formerly stated it would suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights at the end of this month.

Flights from Ethiopia to Eritrea had actually resumed in 2018 after 20 years, following a peace deal and resumption of diplomatic relations between the 2 neighbours that earned Ethiopia's. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a Nobel peace reward a year later.

We could not continue in such situation and we have decided. to suspend the flight since today, Mesfin stated.

In a declaration late on Monday, Ethiopian Airline companies had said. it would try to rebook affected travelers on other airlines at. no additional expense or offer refunds.

Ethiopian is ranked the biggest airline in Africa by revenue. and earnings by the International Air Transportation Association.

Five diplomats told Reuters the suspension of flights. signalled that relations between Asmara and Addis had soured. significantly, however the danger of dispute was not likely in the meantime.

The two nations severed ties in 1998 when a two-year war. begun over their contested border.

Eritrea battled alongside Ethiopia in a war that appeared in. November 2020 against regional forces from Ethiopia's Tigray. area, but relations soured once again after Asmara was. excluded from the peace talks that ended that dispute two years. later on, and because some of its soldiers stay in Tigray.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not. right away react to a request for remark.

(source: Reuters)