Ethiopian Airlines commences direct flights to Puntland, Somalia

GAROWE, Puntland - Ethiopia's flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has launched thrice-weekly direct passenger flights between Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and Somalia's Puntland state on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Puntland President Said Abdullahu Deni, Vice President, Ahmed Karaash, ministers, and senior airline officials attended the flight inaugural colorful ceremony held at the airport in the state capital, Garowe.

Bosaso, the commercial capital of Puntland has also been added the new flight routes of the airline.

The launch of commercial flights between Ethiopia and Puntland came after President Deni has held a crucial meeting with Ethiopian Airlines’ top officials in Addis Ababa last month and signed an agreement.

The move signals a wider optimism in the Horn of Africa region and followed after Puntland has built world-class airports, in a bid to boost the economy and attract International airlines to operate in the state.

The flight resumption would help connect the large Somali diaspora to its motherland and the new flight route significantly cuts the air time he had to endure to travel between Puntland and Ethiopia.

Direct flights between Ethiopia and Somalia resumed last year after 41 years Addis Ababa has suspended the operations shortly after the outbreak of the 1977-78 border war between the two neighboring nations.

The growing Improvement in aviation safety and general security situation in Somalia has prompted foreign airlines to launch flights to the long-chaotic Horn of Africa country. 

Qatar Airways is the latest international airline to fly the Doha-Mogadishu route. Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Kenyan airways are already operating daily flights into Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE