Champagne and roses on first Ethiopia-Eritrea flight in two decades

First commercial flight since peace deal takes off from Addis Ababa heading for Asmara

The passengers fastened their seatbelts and settled in for the 80-minute morning flight. Ethiopian Airlines ET0312 took off, much as hundreds of other planes making short-haul hops between neighbouring capitals do.

But this was no ordinary commercial flight: it was Ethiopian Airlines' first in two decades to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. In celebratation, according to journalists on board, champagne was served along with red roses. When the plane touched down, it was greeted with cheering and song.