First commercial flight from Ethiopia to ex-rival Eritrea touches down

Eritrea’s information minister announced the arrival of the Ethiopian Airlines flight in the capital, Asmara, to a warm red-carpet welcome with the flags of both nations displayed. #Familyreunion #Ethiopia #Eritrea"

Passengers on the flight included former Ethiopian prime minister Haliemariam Desalegn, who led the travelers off the plane onto a red carpet at the Asmara airport, according to a VOA Horn of Africa reporter at the scene. ‘This is a historic day for all of us’: Eritrea’s president visits Ethiopia amid thaw between former rivals Leaders of longtime rivals Ethiopia and Eritrea meet for first time in two decades The dramatic diplomatic thaw in one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts began last month when Ethiopia’s reformist new prime minister fully accepted a peace deal that ended a 1998-2000 border war that killed tens of thousands. Telephone lines have been restored and economic links are being pursued as landlocked Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country, eyes Eritrea’s Red Sea ports. Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa's fastest-growing carriers, has said it would initially operate a once-a-day return flight between Addis Ababa and Asmara. On July 9, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Eritrea's capital Asmara to sign a landmark agreement with President Isaias Afwerki, formally ending the "state of war" between their nations.
International air travel resumes between Eritrea and Ethiopia for the first time since 1998.