The first commercial flights in 20 years between Eritrea and Ethiopia departed Addis Ababa on Wednesday. Ethiopian Airlines said that flight ET0312 to Asmara had departed Bole International Airport, after a ceremony inaugurating the historic flight. The flights is the latest in a series of developments that have marked the new era of relations between the two neighbors after they ended their bitter conflict following a whirlwind peace process. "This day marks a unique event in the history of Ethiopia and Eritrea," Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam said at the ceremony. Overwhelming demand saw the African aviation giant operate two flights within 15 minutes of each other. "The fact that we are taking two flights at a time shows the eagerness of the people," said GebreMariam. Once a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea seceded in 1993 after a long independence struggle. A row over the demarcation of the shared border triggered a brutal 1998-2000 conflict which left 80,000 people dead before evolving into a bitter cold war. In a surprise move, Ethiopias new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last month announced he would finally accept a 2002 United Nations-backed border demarcation, paving the way for peace between the two nations. He then paid a historic visit to Eritrea, during which he and President Isaias Afwerki declared an official end to the war. Afwerki reciprocated with a state visit to Ethiopia just days later. On Monday, Eritrea reopened its embassy in Ethiopia in further evidence of a rapid thaw between two countries. Abiy and Isaias re-opened the embassy in Addis Ababa in a brief ceremony. The rapprochement could help Ethiopia, a landlocked country of 100 million people with the largest economy in East Africa, by making access to Eritrea’s ports possible. At the same time, better ties could help Eritrea overcome decades of relative isolation. The leaders jointly raised the Eritrean flag inside a newly refurbished embassy as a military band played Eritrea’s anthem. They then toured the building and looked at its furniture and two rusting cars that belonged to Eritrea’s last ambassador. In a tweet Eritrea’s information minister, Yemane Meskel described the reopening of the embassy as “yet another milestone in the robust and special ties of peace and friendship both countries are cultivating with earnestness in these momentous times.” Isaias later flew home, he said.