Ethiopia: Ethiopian Airlines Resumes Mekelle Flights, Rekindling Hope for Peace and Normalcy

What the report says

Ethiopian Airlines has resumed commercial flights between Addis Ababa and Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, after a two-week suspension, according to the Ethiopian News Agency report distributed by AllAfrica. The service restarted on October 11 and was described by passengers as a practical relief for people who had been stranded and as a sign of improving conditions in the region.

At Mekelle’s Alula Aba Nega International Airport, arriving travelers said the restored air link would help reconnect families, support businesses, and improve access to goods, including medicines and other essential supplies. Some passengers also linked the flight resumption to the broader need for sustained peace and more reliable services so that normal life can continue to recover in Tigray.

The article quoted passengers who had been delayed in Addis Ababa during the interruption, including people traveling for work and others trying to reunite with relatives. Their comments highlighted the practical importance of the route for transport, trade, healthcare access, and humanitarian movement in a region affected by conflict and disruption.

The report also said flights to Axum and Shire are expected to resume soon. More broadly, the return of service appears to mark an important step toward restoring connectivity in northern Ethiopia, though the benefits will depend on stability and the continued flow of essential supplies.