Ethiopian Airlines has officially confirmed that its financial account in Eritrea remains frozen, deepening concerns over ongoing tensions between the two neighboring countries.
The national carrier revealed that despite repeated engagements with relevant authorities, it has been unable to access the funds, which have been locked for an extended period. According to apanews.net, Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Mesfin Tasew noted that the situation remained unresolved despite efforts to resolve these issues.
“We tried to contact the concerned bodies, but our efforts bore no results,” he said. He, however, confirmed that the airline would continue to use Eritrean airspace and pursue diplomatic efforts to retrieve the blocked funds. The airline was notified in August 2024 that its account in Eritrea had been blocked, forcing the carrier to suspend all flights to Asmara. In an earlier briefing, Tasew said the dispute originated in March 2024 when the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority demanded compensation for lost luggage.
