Ethiopian Airlines suspends flights to three Tigray airports after Mekelle seizure

September 23, 2026 at 02:58 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire on September 23, 2026, after Tigrayan forces seized Mekelle airport from federal police. The suspension leaves Tigray without its only scheduled airline service. The seizure follows the TPLF's announcement of an alliance with six armed groups to overthrow the federal government.

Key Facts

Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire on September 23, 2026, citing the "current situation in Tigray region."
Tigrayan forces seized Mekelle airport from federal police overnight, according to local sources quoted by Reuters and AFP.
The TPLF announced on Sunday an alliance with six armed groups to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
A drone strike in Alamata on Tuesday killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to Tigrayan authorities.
The November 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement ended a two-year war that killed an estimated 600,000 people, according to the African Union.

Airport Seizure

Tigrayan forces took control of Mekelle airport from federal police overnight, according to local sources quoted by Reuters and AFP. An employee at Alula Aba Nega Airport told AFP that a supervisor called their driver to say the airport had been taken over by Tigray forces. A taxi driver at the airport told The Associated Press that TPLF fighters carrying light weapons ordered him to leave, saying no flights would land. The driver reported hearing no gunfire during the takeover.

Flight Suspension

Ethiopian Airlines announced the suspension on Telegram, citing the "current situation in the Tigray region." The airline apologized to customers and said it would notify them when flights resume. Flightradar24 showed the Wednesday morning flight between Mekelle and Addis Ababa had been cancelled. Ethiopian Airlines is the only airline operating scheduled flights to Tigray, leaving the region without regular air service.

Conflict Escalation

The TPLF announced on Sunday an alliance with six armed groups across Ethiopia to overthrow Abiy's government. Getachew Reda, an adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accused Tigrayan forces of attacking government positions in Afar and Amhara. Tigray's regional government said its forces were responding to air and artillery attacks on September 22. A drone strike in Alamata on Tuesday killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to Tigrayan authorities. The fighting threatens the November 2022 peace agreement that ended the two-year war between the federal government and Tigrayan forces.