Ethiopian Airlines to fly to Hargeisa

Ethiopian Airlines will begin twice-weekly flights to Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared state of Somaliland, northwest Somalia, from 27 March. Somaliland Minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, Abdillahi Duale, told IRIN that Yeman Airways and the Kenyan-based Regional Airways had also applied to the administration to establish flights. He said it demonstrated progress in Somaliland, despite the absence of international recognition. “We are very happy... we have an agenda and priorities irrespective of what people say,” Duale said. The minister said Somaliland had generated US $1.5 million from its airports between January and October 2000, and had established a 24 hour operations room. International flights from the Gulf states, East Africa and Europe use Hargeisa and Berbera airports, Duale said. Since 1996, the UN-supported International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) has controlled Somali airspace from neighbouring Kenya. In the absence of a central government, ICAO was authorised by the UN Secretary-General in March 1996 to provide essential services to ensure the safety of international air transport operations in Somali airspace. Duale described Somaliland’s relationship with ICAO as “practical and functional”. He said the organisation had collected revenue on behalf of the Somaliland administration, and had provided technical training. ICAO told IRIN that it worked directly with the administration in Somaliland, as well as the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeast Somalia, but did not deal with Mogadishu. The Somali capital has remained closed to all international flights since 1996, ICAO said. Ethiopian Airlines confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it would start the twice-weekly flight on 27 March to Hargeisa, which would be the 44th international destination for the Ethiopian national carrier. The airline said that by opening the route, it would facilitate a smooth flight for the Somali Diaspora all over the world to the destination.