The airport was inaugurated by Dr Debretsion Gebremichael, Deputy Prime Minister for Finance and Economic Cluster and Minister of Communication and Information Technology, along with Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Transport, and Abdi Mohammed, Chief Administrator of the state.

“The airport is a development project which was achieved by the sacrifice paid by residents of the regional state,” said Dr Debretsion at the inaugural ceremony.

“It is also part of Ethiopia’s plan to improve the aviation industry in the second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II) period,” he added.

Abdi Mohammed, Chief Administrator of the regional state, said the airport helps to improve investment and tourist flow to the region.

The modern and international Kebri Dehar airport can accommodate modern jet airplanes, including Boeing 737, according to Wondim Teklu, Public Relations Director at the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE).