Ethiopian Airlines cancels flights amid unrest

Aug 5, 2023 - 20:24

Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen (C) speaks at the opening ceremony of the 42nd ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 15, 2023. The 42nd ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) kicked off on Wednesday with a call for increasing efforts to deepen continental integration and toward realizing Africa's development aspirations. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) --

Ethiopia's national air carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, announced Friday it has canceled flights to three destinations in the unrest-hit Amhara region.

In a press statement, the airline said it has canceled planned weekend flights to the cities of Dessie, Gonder, and Lalibela in the turbulent northern Ethiopian region.

It will be ready to serve the customers who bought weekend tickets to the three cities when the flights resume, the airline said.

The cancellation of flights to Ethiopia's second most populous region means that the regional capital, Bahir Dar, is currently the only city in Amhara with an air link.

Earlier on Friday, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region amid ongoing clashes between the government military and local militiamen known as Fano.

On Wednesday, Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen described the ongoing security situation in the region as "concerning" and called for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts.