Ethiopian Airlines Rubbishes Claims it Boycotted Somali Airspace

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has dismissed claims that it has boycotted the Somali airspace following the ongoing row between the two countries over a controversial MoU in January.

The airline said Friday it was dismayed to learn of a report carried out by BBC Amharic that it had boycotted the Somali airspace noting that the report was ‘inaccurate and distorted.’

“Ethiopia Airline has not stopped flying over the Somali airspace, and Ethiopian Airlines CEO did not state that it is unsafe to fly over the Somali airspace.

The airline also dismissed a letter circulating online purporting to be from Ethiopian Airlines to IATA as ‘fake.’

The reports come in the wake of disputes between the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and the Somaliland Civil Aviation Authority, which, according to various reports, resulted in confusing instructions issued to airlines.

Ethiopian Airlines restarted its operations to Mogadishu in October 2018.