Djibouti denies Ethiopian operating permit

DJIBOUTI has denied Ethiopian Airlines permits to operate flights into the tiny Horn of Africa country forcing Ethiopian to suspend operations there indefinitely.

Ethiopian officials would only comment that the issue was due to “operational reasons”.

“There are negotiations going on between the two countries,” Girma Wake, Ethiopian’s chief executive officer of the airline said. “They have some demands. The suspension is only until some sort of agreement is reached.”

The source of the hitch is allegedly due to Djibouti wanting Ethiopian to service it with 737s instead of its current Q400 aircraft, acquired this March. However, the size of the aircraft would mean it would largely fly empty.

Ethiopian currently has five 737-700s and two 737-800s.