A shift in transportation patterns seems to be taking off as more and more people turn to domestic air travel. The demand for air transportation has soared, driven by a combination of various factors at play. In a recent report released by the Ethiopian Airlines Group, the company has witnessed a significant increase in domestic air travel to over 22 destinations within the country. Mesfin Tasew, the CEO of the Group, shared this news with the media in early May 2024, revealing a sharp rise in the number of domestic passengers taking to the skies.
As the current budget year, ending in June, approaches its conclusion, the overall number of domestic passengers is expected to reach 3.5 million, marking a remarkable 34.6 percent surge compared to the same period in the previous year. During the 2022/23budget year, the group recorded a total of 2.6 million domestic passengers.
Lemma Yadecha Gudeta, the Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the rising flow of domestic passengers while attending the inauguration ceremony for the newly expanded USD 59 million domestic terminal in mid-May 2024. The airport now accommodates over 200 daily flights catering to domestic travelers, he stated.
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According to him, the surge in demand for air travel is driven by improved affordability for passengers. He emphasized that people’s ability to pay for tickets has improved, leading to what he referred to as “organic growth.” This growth, according to him, can be attributed to the expanding middle-income society within the country.
However, beneath the surface of this air travel boom lies a complex and challenging reality.
Alemnesh Woretaw, one of the airline’s new clients, begs to differ with the official’s assertions highlighting the changing landscape of air travel in Ethiopia.
Three long years separated Alemnesh’s last visit to her family in Gonder from her current life in Addis Ababa. The desire for a reunion was a constant flicker in her heart, but her meager monthly salary of 2,500 birr as a maid, inclusive of housing and meals, kept her dream just out of reach.
Yearning to see her parents again, Alemnesh had carefully saved every penny; but the cost of travel remained an insurmountable obstacle. A round-trip bus ticket alone consumed nearly her entire monthly salary.
However, fate intervened last month when an urgent call shattered the fragile bubble of Alemnesh’s routine. Her family’s voices, laden with worry, informed her that her mother’s health had taken a turn for the worse. She knew she had to be by her mother’s side.
She planned her journey meticulously, calculating her budget. However, she soon discovered that traveling by bus had become perilous due to serious security issues. News reports were replete with stories of militant groups operating in the Oromia region, the very area Alemnesh would have to traverse. These reports painted a grim reality of kidnappings, high ransoms, and brutal killings for those unable to pay.
The dream of an affordable bus trip evaporated in the face of such brutality.
Air travel, albeit costlier, offered a safer alternative. A single ticket on Ethiopian Airlines to Bahir Dar cost over 3,500 birr, surpassing her entire monthly salary. A round-trip ticket represented three months’ worth of work.
Despite the heavy toll on her heart and wallet, Alemnesh purchased the ticket. Her mother needed her presence and care.
Alemnesh’s story is not an isolated case. The bustling scene at Bole International Airport’s domestic terminal paints a vivid picture of the changing landscape of air travel. Once considered a luxury, air travel now resembles a busy bus station, highlighting how it has become a necessity rather than a choice for many.
TesfahunWoyuma, a resident of Debre Markos, knows the perils of land travel in Ethiopia all too well. A recent trip to Addis Ababa for an official meeting served as a stark reminder of the risks involved. “It’s a matter of life and death,” he solemnly remarked.
DebreMarkos, located less than 300 kilometers from the capital, would have been a straightforward public transportation journey during more stable times. However, Tesfahun is now unwilling to take any chances on his return trip, becoming yet another headache he must navigate.
“I’ve learned my lesson,” he told Reporter Magazine with a touch of humor. “Two mistakes in a row? No way!” he said.
Tesfahun decided to fly to Bahir Dar, a distance of 557 kilometers from the capital, and then complete the remaining leg of his journey by bus back to DebreMarkos. Nonetheless, he still faced a daunting 255-kilometer journey from Bahir Dar to DebreMarkos, which significantly inflates his overall travel costs.
The story of Alemnesh and Tesfahun sheds light on the difficult choices faced by many Ethiopians as they navigate the five main gates of Addis Ababa amidst ongoing security concerns. These challenges force individuals to make costly decisions, opting for air transport despite financial constraints, all in an effort to mitigate risks.
In recent years, the issues confronting commuters entering or leaving Addis Ababa through the Ambo, Bishoftu (Kality), Dessie, Gojjam, and Jimma gates have become increasingly commonplace.
The threat of kidnappings, rape, and conflict along travel routes dissuades people from utilizing land transportation, which would otherwise be a more affordable option. Unfortunately, land travel has transformed from a practical choice into a luxury, leaving many Ethiopians with the harsh dilemma of either forgoing travel altogether or bearing the burden of exorbitant airfare, a heavy expense that many can scarcely afford.
Unlike many other cities across the country, Addis Ababa, is encircled by pivotal political and economic hubs. The capital assumes the role of primary political and financial hub, serving as a necessary destination for its 120 million citizens, irrespective of the existence of regional centers.
The city offers vital government and nongovernmental services, including administrative branches, shopping and business centers, efficient medical facilities, entertainment venues, and leisure centers. This availability of services had meant that over the years citizens flock to the capital in search of better pay or living standards, or all together make the commute daily to support their families. The prevailing security challenges however have significantly limited the options available to these individuals.
Due to the absence of viable alternative transportation options, thousands of daily commuters to and from Addis Ababa are left with no choice but to rely on air travel for crucial activities such as family visits, education, medical appointments, administrative affairs, leisure pursuits, meetings, and business engagements.
During an anonymous interview with The Reporter Magazine in late March, a tour operator based in Lalibela revealed the dissatisfaction expressed by a few backpacker visitors who had been compelled to rely on air transport. These visitors would have preferred to travel by car if other options were available. The tour operator mentioned that many had initially planned to drive to the Tigray region but had to cancel their plans due to embassy warnings.
The tour guide explained how these tourists yearned to explore different locations, engage in cultural exchanges, interact with local communities, immerse themselves in remote regions, expand their knowledge of the world, and uncover hidden connections and secrets. Regrettably, their experiences fell short of their expectations, leaving them with few lasting memories to share.
The tour guide lamented, “We can say they visited Ethiopia, but their experiences were devoid of the richness they had hoped for.”
In addition to people’s reluctance and anxiety regarding long-distance travel by vehicle or bus, several cross-country public transportation services have also ceased operations nationwide due to concerns over security, violence, kidnappings, and highway robberies.
Erratic security conditions have led diplomatic missions, including those from the US, UK, Canada, and other countries, to caution against travel to certain areas of Ethiopia, including the capital.
In an interview with The Reporter Newspaper, Scott Hocklander, the mission director for USAID in Ethiopia and Djibouti, highlighted the alarming nature of moving from one place to another. He cited the deaths of ten aid workers since the outbreak of conflict in Amhara region.
Numerous roads across the country have become impassable in various regions, as evidenced by the significant uptick in air travel reported by Ethiopian Airlines.
For many Ethiopians grappling with skyrocketing inflation, financial hardships, and unemployment, concerns about road safety only add to their worries. However, the high cost of air travel may be seen as a necessary expense when weighed against the risks associated with traveling by road.
“When faced with an unexpected and catastrophic event involving killing and kidnapping, what would you do if you only had one option to survive? You would undoubtedly pay with everything you have, except your life,” stressed Tesfahun.
