Somalia has denied Ethiopia Freedom of Air rights, days after Tanzania rescinded Kenya’s airline KQ’s operation to Dar es Salaam.
On Wednesday 17th 2024, Somalia issued a statement rescinding Ethiopian Airlines planes from accessing their airspace in Mogadishu with the allegation that they have failed to bow to rules and not seeking permission to access the airspace.
Why Somalia rescind Ethiopian Airline operations
This bafflement started after the itinerary of a group of persons chosen to represent others in Hargeisa, was subjected to interception and the Ethiopian flight was in use ordered to return by Somali Civil Aviation concern, for lacking necessary clearance to use the venue.
” Today, Somali Aviation Authority took action to turn back an Ethiopian Airlines plane Dash 8-Q400, flight number ET8372, from Somali airspaces as it was found to be unauthorized. Adhering to international air rules and out rules, flights must obtain proper permission before entering airspace,” the agency observed, as quoted by the EastAfrican.
The uncertainty which has hit the Ethiopian Airlines agency comes in the middle where there is international relations noise between the two countries following Addis Ababa’s move to sign a memorandum of understanding to secure its access to the Red Sea with the Separatist Somaliland.
Even though Somaliland claimed its right of self-government from Somalia in 1991, no foreign powers have recognized the country’s autonomy.
The European Union, United States, African Union, China and Arab League have both directed their advice to Ethiopia to try as much as possible to esteem Somalia’s territorial honesty.
Tanzania rescinds Kenya Airways flight operations
The script which played out in Somalia’s airspace is not unprecedented since a few days ago, the government of President Samia Suluhu called for the suspension of all Kenya Airways (KQ) flights to the Capital City of Dar es Salaam following Kenya’s deliberate decline request for all cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania.
They expressed Kenya’s unwillingness as a breach of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services between them and Kenya.
KQ’s statement noted that there was an underway engagement with civil aviation authorities and relevant government agencies in Kenya and Tanzania to reach the best solution.
Why did Tanzania withdraw the decision to revoke KQ flights?
Later, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) withdrew the decision to rescind KQ flights to Dar es Salaam.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 16, TCAA noted that the flight freedom has been restored with immediate effect.
This came after Kenyan authorities gave Air Tanzania cargo back its fifth operation freedom.
“The aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya have granted the fifth freedom traffic right to Air Tanzania for all cargo services, as per the request of the government of Tanzania.
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