LACK OF APPROVALS BY EUROPE FOR 5TH FREEDOM ASMARA – EUROPE FLIGHTS PROMPT ETHIOPIAN TO PULL OUT FROM NEW ROUTES
(Posted 19th November 2018)
While Eritrea had reportedly granted Ethiopian Airlines fifth freedom rights to operate nonstop and direct flights from Asmara to such European destinations like Rome, Milan, London, Oslo and Stockholm does it now appear that Africa’s leading airline will after all not go ahead with these new flights for reasons of being denied reciprocating 5th freedom traffic rights by the Europeans.
This is a blow for Eritreans who thought that for the first time in a generation they could board a plane in Asmara and get off in Rome or Stockholm but now will have to fly first to Addis Ababa and then commence their intercontinental journey from there.
Fifth freedom rights were also pulled from Ethiopian Airlines by the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU, for their services from Dublin to Los Angeles, prompting ET to route that service via a West African waypoint instead (Lome) and serving Dublin via a European waypoint (Madrid).
Links to related articles published on ATCNews:
https://atcnews.org/2018/10/19/peace-dividend-pays-off-for-eritreans/
https://atcnews.org/2018/10/31/ethiopianairlines-changes-waypoint-for-flights-to-los-angeles/
