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Air travel to Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region stopped on Wednesday. Ethiopian Airlines suspended
service to three cities after regional fighters seized the main airport in the regional capital. With
Tigray flights suspended, the only scheduled link to the region is gone, and travellers
are left with charter flights or nothing.
What Tigray flights suspended means for the region
Regional forces took control of Mekelle airport on the morning of 23 September 2026. The state-owned
carrier responded by cancelling flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire "due to the current situation",
without giving detail, the Associated Press reported.
A taxi driver told the AP that fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, carrying light arms,
occupied the airport, which federal forces normally hold. A commander ordered him to leave, saying no
flights would land. The takeover appeared peaceful, with no gunfire heard.
The fighting behind the suspension
The airport takeover is one thread of a wider escalation. The regional government said it had ordered
its fighters into a "defensive war" after federal forces attacked Tigray on 22 September using
drones and heavy artillery. That account comes from the regional administration.
The African Union Commission chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, called for restraint, warning the
fighting risks reversing gains from the 2022 peace agreement. The US ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin
Massinga, called the fighting a "poor decision" and raised the prospect of sanctions. The TPLF’s
deputy called the AU and US positions "unfair", accusing them of ignoring federal airstrikes.
How Tigray reached this point
The region fought a devastating war with federal forces that ended with a November 2022 peace deal.
Since July, the regional government has reported renewed drone attacks. Three days before the airport
takeover, seven opposition groups, including the TPLF, formed an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister
Abiy Ahmed, whose party retained power in a June election boycotted by the main opposition.
An adviser to the prime minister is Getachew Reda, a former Tigray peace negotiator. He accused the TPLF
of attacks in neighbouring Afar and Amhara. He said the airport takeovers had taken irresponsibility
"to new heights". The TPLF, in turn, says federal drones struck first. Each side blames the
other. Neutral verification on the ground is thin. One result is not disputed: no scheduled flights, and a
three-year-old peace deal under real strain.
The instability sits within a tense Horn of Africa. Our report on
the Blue Nile escalation in neighbouring Sudan
tracks a related regional strain, and our coverage of the
US immigration office in Addis Ababa
looks at how consular services in Ethiopia can be affected by unrest.
What travellers to Ethiopia should do now
If Tigray was on your itinerary, plan around the suspension.
- Do not rely on scheduled flights to Mekelle, Axum or Shire. They are cancelled until further notice.
- Charter is the only air option. The region remains reachable by chartered flight, at cost.
- Check your government’s travel advisory. Active conflict zones carry insurance and safety implications.
- Confirm rebooking rights. Passengers holding tickets on the suspended routes should contact Ethiopian Airlines about refunds or rerouting.
Disruption from conflict and weather has hit several regions this month; our report on
a renewed Iran travel warning
shows how fast advisories can change.
What to watch next
Two things will decide when flights resume: control of Mekelle airport, and whether the AU-backed
dialogue the US ambassador urged actually starts. Until federal authorities hold the airport again, a
scheduled return is unlikely. The wider risk is that the fighting spreads to neighbouring Afar and Amhara,
which the prime minister’s adviser has already accused the TPLF of entering. For now, Tigray is closed to
commercial air travel with no restart date.
Tigray travel questions, answered
Are flights to Tigray still running?
No. Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire on 23 September 2026 after regional forces took control of Mekelle airport. The carrier cited ‘the current situation’.
Which cities are affected?
The three suspended routes serve Mekelle, the Tigray capital, plus Axum and Shire in the same region.
Can travellers reach Tigray another way?
Only by chartered flight. Ethiopian Airlines is the sole scheduled carrier to the region, so its suspension effectively closes commercial air access.
Why did the airport close to flights?
Fighters affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front took over Mekelle airport, which is usually held by federal forces. The takeover was reported as peaceful, with no gunfire.
Is the rest of Ethiopia affected?
The suspension applies to the three Tigray routes. Ethiopian Airlines’ wider domestic and international network was not reported as affected. Travellers should still check advisories before flying.
What triggered the renewed fighting?
The regional government said it ordered a ‘defensive war’ after federal forces attacked Tigray on 22 September using drones and heavy artillery. Tensions have risen since the TPLF retook the regional administration.
Sources
- Associated Press via Click2Houston — Ethiopian Airlines cancels flights to Tigray capital as fighters take over airport. click2houston.com
- Bloomberg — Ethiopian Airlines Cancels Tigray Flights as Rebels Take Airport. bloomberg.com
Featured image: Tigray highlands, photo by Rod Waddington, licensed CC BY-SA.