Airline suspends flights to Israel

Ethiopian Airlines (EA) has suspended its biweekly flight to Israel in a tit for tat row over airport security. In a statement on Monday, the airline said it was forced to take the action after Israel urged its citizens not to travel to Ethiopia. The airline also blamed negative publicity in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks against Israeli targets in Kenya which called into question airport security in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Israel had forced an Ethiopian Airlines flight, destined for Tel Aviv, to land at a military airbase after questions were raised over safety precautions at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport. Israeli security experts have also requested permission to check security at the airport. The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority is currently processing their request. EA, which handles more than a million passengers a year, said it was “dismayed” by the action taken by Israel. “This situation caused undue stress and inconvenience to our passengers and crew and has also caused operational irregularities and unexpected additional costs,” it said. The statement insisted that all EA flights are operated under industry standard security codes. EA, which was founded in 1945 with the help of American-owned TWA, added that the claims were “seriously jeopardising” the airline's ability to fly to Israel. “Under the circumstances, therefore, Ethiopian [Airlines] regrets to inform its customers that the airline is suspending its flights to Tel Aviv effective immediately,” it said.