Ethiopian Airlines, the state-owned carrier of Ethiopia, has announced the suspension of its flights to Eritrea, citing challenging operating conditions that remain unspecified. Previously, Eritrea had indicated plans to halt all Ethiopian Airlines flights by the end of this month.

The resumption of flights between Ethiopia and Eritrea occurred in 2018 after a two-decade hiatus, following a peace agreement and the restoration of diplomatic ties, an effort that earned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a Nobel Peace Prize the following year.

According to five diplomats who spoke to Reuters, this suspension serves as a clear indication of the deteriorating relationship between Asmara and Addis Ababa, although they assessed that the likelihood of renewed conflict remains low for the time being.

The two nations had previously cut ties in 1998, which marked the beginning of a two-year war over a disputed border.

Eritrea had allied with Ethiopia during the conflict that began in November 2020 against regional forces from Tigray, but relations deteriorated again after Asmara was left out of the peace negotiations that concluded the conflict two years later, compounded by the presence of Eritrean troops in Tigray.

In a statement released late Monday, Ethiopian Airlines expressed regret in informing its customers traveling to and from Asmara about the suspension of flights effective September 3, due to extremely challenging operating conditions in Eritrea that are beyond its control.

The airline stated it would attempt to rebook affected passengers on alternative airlines at no extra charge or provide refunds, though it did not elaborate on the specific conditions mentioned.

Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Ethiopian Airlines is recognized as the largest airline in Africa in terms of revenue and profit, according to the International Air Transport Association.