Ethiopian Airlines lands in Mogadishu for first time in 40 years

MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Ethiopian Airlines today made its first flight to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in over 40 years.

Officials of the airlines have reported that flight traffic will increase significantly, with the expectation of several daily flights between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

The entry of the Ethiopian national carrier on the Mogadishu destination makes it the second major international carrier after Turkish Airlines to operate in Somalia.

The move comes three weeks after a plane from the private airline, Ethiopia National Airways, landed at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport.

This was the first commercial flight between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu in 41 years, in yet another sign of improved ties between the neighboring Horn of Africa nations.

In June, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, paid a visit to Mogadishu, where he and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed agreed to strengthen relations. Somalia and Ethiopia have gone to war several times over a disputed territory.