Flights to Lalibela and Gondar have been canceled due to security concerns following clashes between government security forces and Fano militants in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
The clashes began on Tuesday, August 2023, and have continued sporadically since then. On Thursday, August 2023, Lalibela airport staff informed Addis Insight that the air flight to Lalibela had been canceled due to the fighting.
Addis Insight has also confirmed that there will be no flights to Gondar today due to the fighting. It is understood that there is an exchange of fire near the Gondar airport this morning.
Lalibela airport staff stated that the first of the two daily flights to Lalibela was made on the morning of Tuesday, July 25, 2015. However, the Fano militants, who had heard the rumor that “more members of the Defense Forces are about to enter the Lalibela Airport,” went to the place and engaged in an exchange of fire with the members of the Federal Police who were on guard.
Following this, the second flight, which was supposed to land at Lalibela Airport at 6:50 a.m., returned without landing due to security concerns.
The cancellations of these flights are a major inconvenience for travelers, as Lalibela and Gondar are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Ethiopia. However, the security concerns are understandable given the recent clashes.
It is unclear when flights to Lalibela and Gondar will resume. However, the Ethiopian government has said that it is working to restore security in the region and that flights will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, travelers are advised to check with their airlines before traveling to Lalibela or Gondar.
