Ethiopian Airlines is set to resume service to the Tigray region, suspended due to the conflict.

CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Mesfin Tassew told local media that the airline has completed all preparations to resume scheduled service after the government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) recently signed a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Following the peace accord signed in South Africa’s Pretoria and Kenya’s Nairobi, the CEO said that “the situation on the ground has improved” and that Ethiopian Airlines is “awaiting final approval from security agencies and civil aviation authority to start flights.”

Mesfin said the airline has recently dispatched personnel to the Tigray region to assess and determine the readiness of airports in the region to host flights.

He said that Mekelle and Shire airports could host operations but said that Axum Airport is not ready yet due to the major damage it has suffered in the conflict.

Before the start of the conflict, Ethiopian Airlines used to conduct between 10 to 14 flights to Mekele daily, making it the top position among the domestic routes. There were also two flights to the historic town of Axum and one to Shire per day.

The resumption of flights to Tigray is expected to boost the tourism sector which had been heavily affected by the conflict. “Since the northern part of Ethiopia is a historical travel route, the start of flights will increase the flow of tourists. In this way, Ethiopian Airlines will earn more income.  Ethiopia as a country too will get its due benefits,” the CEO said.

Ethiopian serves 22 domestic destinations, including four in Tigray.