Ethiopian Airlines and UAE based FlyDubai made changes on their websites on Friday to avoid a possible suspension of flights by the civil aviation authority of Somalia.
On Wednesday, Mogadishu based Civil Aviation Authority termed the actions of the two airlines as violations of Somalia’s sovereignty. The authority warned the airlines to make corrections by August 24.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority actually wanted the two airlines to show Hargeisa airport as part of Somalia. Hargeisa is situated in Somaliland. Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia but it wants to gain international recognition as a country.
Landlocked Ethiopia earlier this year signed an MoU with neighboring Somaliland to gain access to sea through Somaliland in return of recognizing Somaliland as country. Somalia rejected the MoU calling it a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. UAE is said to be backing Ethiopia and Somaliland on this issue.
Waring from Somalia’s civil aviation authority is being seen as a political matter. But the two airlines made changes on their websites and mobile applications on Friday. Both the airlines now show Hargeisa as part of Somalia.
The aviation authority of Somalia also accused the Ethiopian airline of providing poor service to Somali customers. The Ethiopian airline, in its response, requested more time from the Somali aviation authority, promising to look into the matter.
Read more..
Somalia to Suspend Ethiopian Airline Flights