Maldives, Ethiopia sign air services agreement

The Maldives and Ethiopia have signed an air services agreement aimed at establishing scheduled air links between the two countries.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation by Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen and Director General of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority Yohannes Abera Belete.

According to the ministry, the agreement provides the framework for operating air services between the two countries. It would allow Ethiopian Airlines to operate flights to the Maldives and Maldivian to operate services to Ethiopia.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ameen said Ethiopia had become the sixth African country with which the Maldives has signed an air services agreement.

The Maldives has previously signed similar agreements with Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles and South Africa.

Ameen said the agreement creates the framework for launching scheduled flights between the Maldives and Ethiopia.

He added that Ethiopian Airlines has expressed interest in operating direct flights between Addis Ababa and the Maldives.

“Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies on the African continent,” Ameen said. “Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Africa and operates the most extensive air network on the continent.”

According to Ameen, the agreement forms part of the Maldives’ efforts to expand its international air transport network and strengthen economic connectivity.