Ethiopian suspends Goma flights

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According to eTNW, Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to Goma (DRC) following claims by DRC regulator, Régie des Voies Aériennes de la République Démocratique du Congo, that the airport was not fit to handle flights. 

“Our flights to Goma have been suspended for the time being. Ethiopian Airlines currently has the largest and youngest fleet of all the African carriers and, as we are aware, airports, especially in Africa, are not always equipped with the necessary infrastructure,” says Ethiopian Airlines sales representative, Carla Gombart, adding that safety of passengers is a top concern for the airline. 

Gombart could not confirm the particulars surrounding the suspension but confirms that the airline is looking for the most viable means forward. 

Goma’s only runway was severely damaged by the eruption of the nearby Mount Nyiragongo in 2002, when a lava flow covered a 1,200 metre section.