Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopian Airlines is once again facing allegations, this time regarding pricing for flights to destinations in northern Ethiopia.
Last week, several Ethiopian social media users expressed concerns that the airline had overcharged passengers traveling to Aksum for the Tsion celebration on November 30, 2024.
Citizens reports on social media indicated that some travelers paid up to 45,000 Ethiopian birr (approximately $350) for the 60-kilometer journey between Shire and Aksum.
In an unusual move, Hana Atinafu, Ethiopian Airlines’ Head of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, interviewed two of her colleagues on the state-owned Fana Broadcasting Corporation to address the concerns. Her guests included Hailemelekot Mamo, Deputy President of Ethiopian Airlines Holiday and Digital Sales, and Fikre Digafe, Director of Ethiopian Express and Regional Airports.
The officials highlighted that the airline had prepared extensively for the Aksum Tsion celebration, operating 40 additional flights alongside regular services to Aksum.
“This is not the first time we’ve done this. As the number of passengers increases, we deploy more planes, which is what we did,” said Fikre.
Regarding pricing, the airline stated that fares had not been increased following the introduction of recent economic reforms, which included the depreciation of the Ethiopian birr.
The officials also explained the price differences between passengers on the same flight to the same destination. According to the airline, pricing depends on whether a passenger is a resident or non-resident, with non-residents paying based different rates on daily currency exchange rates.
Additionally, pricing considered operational costs. For the Aksum Tsion celebration, planes flew with full capacity to Aksum but often returned with few passengers. The pricing for the 40 additional flights accounted for this imbalance.
Larger planes typically used for international flights were also deployed to accommodate the increased demand for travel to Aksum.
On the specific complaint about the high cost of flights between Shire and Aksum, the airline clarified that the pricing reflected the cost of flights originating in Addis Ababa, as there were no direct flights between Shire and Aksum.
Despite Ethiopian Airlines’ continued recognition for service excellence through awards and accolades, the airline has faced what appears to be a smear campaign over issues such as pricing, flight delays, and theft allegations—particularly from the Eritrean government. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
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