Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to three cities in northern Ethiopia on September 23, 2026, after Tigrayan forces seized Mekelle Airport amid renewed fighting between regional and federal forces.
The state-owned airline halted services to Mekelle, Axum and Shire, citing the current situation in the Tigray region.
Local sources told Reuters that Tigrayan forces had taken control of the airport in Mekelle from federal police overnight.
A taxi driver at Mekelle airport told The Associated Press that fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) were carrying light weapons and ordered him to leave. He reported hearing no gunfire during the takeover.
Ethiopian Airlines apologized to affected customers and said it would notify them when flights resume. Ethiopian is the only airline operating scheduled flights to Tigray.
