The return of Somali Airlines

[Carafaat]

http://somalilandpress.com/somalia-revive-national-airline-21-years-32608

 

Somalia to revive national airline after 21 years

 

 

MOGADISHU — The Somali government this week said it was committed to reviving the national carrier, Somali Airlines, after more than two-decades of absences from the airs.

 

Mohammed Osman Ali “Dhagah-tur”, the general director of ministry of aviation and transport, told local media that plans to bring the white star carrier from scrap yards were already underway.

 

He said there was huge interest and market for the Somali Airlines to be salvaged as hundreds of thousands of Somalis are set to return back to the country from abroad after many years.

 

The Somali government and the Somali Civil Aviation Steering Committee have recently met with various aviation governing bodies including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal.

 

During a two-day meeting in Montreal, the Somali Civil Aviation Steering Committee requested international assistance to rebuild the national civil aviation capacity over the next three years.

 

The committee also requested that all administration and management of the industry should be handed back to the Somali authorities instead of operating in Nairobi by foreign staff.

 

Following the collapse of the central government in Somalia, in 1996 UNDP and ICAO established the Civil Aviation Caretaker Authority for Somalia (CACAS) in the Kenyan capital. Many Somalis have since complained about the foreign establishment handling their airspace from foreign offices with many said to be enjoying high kickbacks.

 

A technical audit report in early this year found evidence of widespread corruption in the Nairobi office and that: “There are few very low paid Somali aviation personnel, who are working in the project, but are treated as second class associates. The Somalis are working on pupils visas in Kenya, and there are huge disparities and discrepancies in salaries, benefits and allowances when compared to the Kenyan staff members who are paid, three or four times higher than what the Somalis are getting, though some of them are having higher or equivalent qualifications of their non-Somali counterparts.”

 

The Somali Civil Aviation Steering Committee is comprised of the TFG, Puntland, Somaliland and members of CACAS, UNDP and ICAO/TCB.

 

The discussion in Montreal chaired by Ahmed Dalal Farah, the Director of Somaliland civil aviation, strongly emphasized the need to transfer all Somali aviation assets and operations from Nairobi to the hands of Somali authorities.

 

The transitional government, whose mandate expires in less than a month, is set to form its own committee to help rebuild the industry, draft new laws and to regulate aviation standards in Somalia.

 

Mr. Ali believes once Somalia restores its stability after years of civil unrest, many local and international carriers will channel in their flights to Africa’s most strategic nation. Furthermore, local analysts believe Somalia might become one of the biggest tourist markets due to its long coastline full of pristine beaches and historical sites.

 

Founded in 1964, the Somali Airlines ceased operations in 1991 following the outbreak of the civil war that ousted Dictator Mohamed Siad Bare. Before it collapsed it had a fleet of 10 aircraft.

 

Mr. Ali took the opportunity to announce new regulations from the Somali ministry of transport and aviation, which prohibits drivers from using unroadworthy vehicles on the public roads. He said new cars will be imported into the country and once they arrive, all civilians are required to replace cars deemed unroadworthy for public safety.

 

Somalilandpress

 

July 22, 2012

[Bluelicious]

Great news for Somalia. Carafaat when will Somali airline start the flights?

[Bluelicious]

??

[Carafaat]

Bluelicious;976630 wrote:

Great news for Somalia. Carafaat when will Somali airline start the flights?

Blue,

 

They hope to start by end of this year. I am still curious how they hope to prevent unfair competition between a government owned Airline and the existing private Airlines.

 

 

[YoniZ]

Nothing wrong with joining the party.....Here is my favourite, Aar Maanta's Deeqa:

 

 

[ElPunto]

This is about the last thing this government needs to do. To create a government owned para-statal when basic security and governance isn't established. If they want to do something to improve air links and transportation - it's to build better airports capable of handling bigger planes.

 

Unless this whole thing is a stunt where they sell the rights of Somali Airlines to some crony who provides a kickback to the government/individuals in it.

[Tallaabo]

ElPunto;977581 wrote:

This is about the last thing this government needs to do. To create a government owned para-statal when basic security and governance isn't established. If they want to do something to improve air links and transportation - it's to build better airports capable of handling bigger planes.

 

Unless this whole thing is a stunt where they sell the rights of Somali Airlines to some crony who provides a kickback to the government/individuals in it.

These guys are still stuck in the era where national airlines where the status symbols of their respective nations. Someone should tell them that the world has moved on and we are now in the 21st century.

[Bluelicious]

Carafaat;977549 wrote:

Blue,

 

They hope to start by end of this year. I am still curious how they hope to prevent unfair competition between a government owned Airline and the existing private Airlines.

 

Cheers and that's pretty soon. That's the question for now we will see about that in the near future.