The Maldives and Ethiopia have signed a bilateral air services agreement that will pave the way for direct air connectivity between the two countries while giving Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) access to fifth freedom traffic rights via the Indian Ocean nation, according to the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA).

The agreement was signed in Malé on July 21 by ECAA director-general Yohannes Abera Belete and Maldives civil aviation minister Mohamed Ameen, following two days of negotiations between aviation officials from the two countries.

The newspaper Addis Standard, citing the ECAA, reported that the agreement allows Ethiopian Airlines to operate onward services from the Maldives to destinations including Colombo International, Perth International, Sydney Kingsford Smith, Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur International, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta, Christchurch, Auckland International, and Wellington under fifth freedom traffic rights.

In a statement, the Maldivian government said the agreement, together with a memorandum of understanding on air services signed the same day, is expected to strengthen cooperation in civil aviation and boost tourism, trade, investment and "people-to-people exchanges". It added that the accords represent a step toward expanding the Maldives' air connectivity and engagement with African countries.