Ethiopian Airlines: We never stopped flying over Somalia

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Airlines has denied reports that it stopped flying over Somalia airspace following claims by BBC Amharic service, which is yet to pull down the article despite the statement by the national carrier of the Horn of Africa nation.

According to the airline management, the Group CEO never zoned Somalia airspace as unsafe, even with a current standoff between Ethiopia and Somalia following an agreement signed by the regional government of Somaliland and Addis Ababa.

The company asked BBC to rectify the reports, but since then, the story remains on air. The airline maintains it never issued such an alert contrary to reports by the BBC Amharic team which is yet to pull down the story.

"Ethiopian Airlines would like to clarify that the recent reports on BBC Amharic and other social media outlets about Ethiopian Group CEO's comments on the Somali airspace situation are inaccurate and distorted," read the statement.

"Ethiopian Airlines has not stopped flying over the Somali airspace and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO did not state that it is unsafe to fly over Somali airspace.

"Accordingly, we request BBC Amharic to correct the report it has issued on the subject. We have also verified that the letter being circulated on social media claiming to be from Ethiopian Airlines sent to IATA is fake and Ethiopian Airlines never wrote such a letter to IATA," the company further said..

Somalia has repeatedly denied access to many Ethiopian Airlines planes, accusing Somaliland of triggering the differences. The government of Ethiopia is under pressure to withdraw from the agreement, which is causing instability in the Horn of Africa.

GAROWE ONLINE