Maldives, Ethiopia Sign Air Services Agreement

An agreement to establish air transport services between the Republic of Maldives and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was signed today. In a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed to further enhance cooperation in the aviation sector between the two nations.

The agreements were signed on behalf of the Government of the Maldives by the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen. Representing the Government of Ethiopia, the Director General of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Getachew Mengistie Alemu, signed the documents.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Minister Ameen noted that Ethiopia is the 6th African nation with which the Maldives has established an air services agreement. He highlighted that similar agreements have previously been signed with Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, and South Africa.

Minister Ameen emphasized that, "This agreement will pave the way for the commencement of direct scheduled flights between the airlines of both countries. The establishment of this air services agreement comes at a time when Ethiopia's national carrier, 'Ethiopian Airlines,' has expressed strong interest in starting direct flights from Addis Ababa to the Maldives. Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, and Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline on the continent, possessing the most extensive flight network."

Continuing his remarks, the Minister stated that a key objective of the government is to increase tourist arrivals, expand the tourism industry, and promote sustainable economic growth. In this regard, this agreement marks a significant milestone in the efforts to establish a global aviation network that enhances the Maldives' economic productivity.

The Minister also noted that this achievement is a result of the sound policies envisioned by the President to build a resilient aviation industry, mitigating the adverse impacts of international shifts on the Maldives' economy and the livelihoods of its citizens. Furthermore, he described it as a crucial step toward achieving the goal of facilitating direct flights to the Maldives from various global hub airports.

Minister Ameen further highlighted that this agreement, which facilitates operations for Africa’s largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, as well as potential direct flights by the Maldives' national airline, "Maldivian," to Ethiopia, will open new horizons for the Maldivian tourism and trade sectors. He added that this would significantly increase the benefits and advancements gained by the Maldives within the aviation industry.

The Minister concluded his remarks by urging stakeholders in the tourism industry and the business community to work proactively to ensure that the benefits of the agreement between the Maldives and Ethiopia are fully achieved.