After a three week suspension, the air link between the federal capital and the capital of Tigray reopens today.
Residents of Mekelle can once again rely on air travel to reach Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines has announced the resumption of flights to the Tigrayan capital, a decision made after federal forces regained control of the city last week.
The national carrier had halted service to Mekelle, Shire, and Axum on September 23, citing the “current situation” in Tigray without providing further details. This suspension lasted three weeks and followed reports that fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had taken up positions at the airports in question.
Bookings open since Friday
Travelers were able to book tickets starting last Friday. Restoring this route re-establishes a vital transport link between the region and the country’s capital.
However, it should be noted that the resumption is only partial. Commercial flights to Shire and Axum remain suspended, and security in the region remains unstable.
What do we know about the ADD–MQX flight schedule?
Ethiopian Airlines operates between 3 and 5 flights per week between Addis Ababa Bole and Mekelle’s Alula Aba Nega Airport, with departures scheduled from Monday to Sunday, spread throughout the day:
|
|
Departure time
|
Arrival time
|
|
Outbound flight (ADD ➔ MQX) |
6h05 |
7h25 |
|
|
8h00 | 9h35 |
| 11h50 |
13h25 |
|
|
|
14h05 | 15h40 |
| 17h40 |
19h15 |
|
|
Return flight (MQX ➔ ADD)
|
8h15 |
9h35 |
|
|
10h35 | 11h55 |
| 13h55 |
15h15 |
|
|
15h10 |
16h45 | |
| 17h25 |
18h45 |