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First commercial flight in 20 years leaves Ethiopia for Eritrea
ADDIS ABABA, July 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The first commercial flight to
Eritrea in two decades departed Wednesday from Addis Ababa after the two
nations ended their bitter conflict following a whirlwind peace process.
Ethiopian Airlines said that flight ET0312 to Asmara had departed Bole
International Airport, after a ceremony inaugurating the historic flight.
“This day marks an unique event in the history of Ethiopia and Eritrea,”
the airline’s chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam said at the ceremony.
Overwhelming demand saw the African aviation giant operate two flights
within 15 minutes of each other.
“The fact that we are taking two flights at a time shows the eagerness of
the people,” said GebreMariam.
An AFP journalist onboard the second flight said champagne was served to
passengers in all classes, who were also given roses shortly before take-off.
Once a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea seceded in 1993 after a long
independence struggle. A row over the demarcation of the shared border
triggered a brutal 1998-2000 conflict which left 80,000 people dead before
evolving into a bitter cold war.
In a surprise move, Ethiopia’s new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last
month announced he would finally accept a 2002 United Nations-backed border
demarcation, paving the way for peace between the two nations.
He then paid a historic visit to Eritrea, during which he and President
Isaias Afwerki declared an official end to the war. Afwerki reciprocated with
a state visit to Ethiopia just days later.
BSS/AFP/MRI/1430 hrs