Business
Second Kenyan airliner launches direct flights to Somaliland
November 23, 2010 · 13 Comments
NAIROBI (Somalilandpress) — Jetlink is set to launch flights to Eritrea and Somaliland as it seeks to establish itself in the region.
The airline is aiming at tapping the increased movement of people and goods within the East African and Comesa trading blocs.
Just a week after launching a direct international flight to Mwanza, the Hargeisa route is set to start next Monday with Eritrea being the next destination.
The company’s managing director, Mr Elly Aluvale, said the removal of trade and movement barriers had increased traffic into the East African region, hence the need for a faster and affordable means of transport.
Mr Aluvale said competition in the local aviation industry had pushed operators to charge lower prices, pegging their profits on numbers.
Mr Aluvale spoke in Mwanza when Prime Minister Raila Odinga launched the inaugural flight to the Tanzanian town on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Unfair practices
During the ceremony, Mr Aluvale decried what he termed as unfair practices that hindered competition in the market, saying the government should level the playing field.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga flags off a 50-seater Jetlink plane (Tom Otieno/Daily Nation)
Transport Minister Amos Kimunya said plans were under way to build a second runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to accommodate increased traffic.
“The expansion and modernisation of the various airport infrastructural facilities is aimed at meeting the increased demand for aviation services within Kenya and in the East African region in general,” he said.
The minister said the government would continue to negotiate and review Bilateral Air Services Agreements to expand the available routes for Kenyan airlines.
Mr Odinga said the JKIA had become Eastern Africa’s aviation hub. He said the government would improve airports in major towns to ease pressure off Nairobi.
The PM said the management of Kisumu Airport must be prepared to meet the increased traffic.
“This facility closes at 8pm. It’s time they woke up to the fresh challenges and see how they can reschedule their operations,” Mr Odinga said.
By DANIEL OTIENO
Source: Daily Nation | Wednesday, 24 November 2010
The other flight: East African Safari Air Express launches flights to Hargeisa
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Tags: east african safari air express, Hargeisa, jetlink, Kenya, Nairobi, Somaliland
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Good to see Kenya and Somaliland from the english-speaking E.A blocs. developing business
exchanges in the Aviation field…hoping also that this beginning will enhance other areas of
mutual benefits implementing the Comesa trading Blocs.
Cheers.
Its good news because that means Somaliland people dont have to relay on Daallo and the arrogant Ethiopia Airlines which has since not returned back. It's their loss. We should welcome the Kenyan airliners.
To transport the Somaliland diaspora in the Gulf, they need to engage the Qatar Airways, Emirates & Kuwait Airways to facilitate special fares to enable our people to use this new flight.
They have a golden chance to sideline the terrible Daallo Airlines, and I am sure nobody will fly with Daallo if this new Airline competes and provides a better travel schedules and commitments to safeguard the rights of the passengers.
Hey guys, are you saying Daallo is unreliable. If so, then that is a bad news to me as I want to travel from London to Hargaisa this winter and need to be able to get back to my job on time. I have no idea about the local market as I have been away since 1994(ashamed).
So what do you think is the best alternative carriers or routes? Please keep the fares as low as possible.
Also I was told that the Kenyans treat the Somalis badly, so if that is true I would rather not risk anything and waste my precious time languishing in their country.
Hello Abraham,
I travel a lot with Dallo and it is as dependable as any other African Airline. Make sure you follow-up and reconfirm your return trips repeatedly to the last travel day. I have experience that it is the most dependable airline on that route.
Cheers.
Thanks Dheere
It is amazing how the somali in kenya( daarod-ogaden) who by now are 3million suort S-land while at the same time the Somaliland govnt turn over ogaden to ethiopia. Remember the ogaden are very influential in kenya and have sevral important ministries like Defence. Deputy speaker in kenyan assebly is daarood and supports Somaliland.
No one cares about those nomads. We are dealing with Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) not Garisa and other villages in NFD. The travellers will be Somalilanders in Kenya and Kenyans but the main target is to move goods between Somaliland and Kenya.
We are all nomads Mr Ali and we care about our fellow Somalis who show us goodwill.
Halgan..The Somaliland NO1 priority policy is to be a free politically recognised Nation.
and will remain committed to forge good bilateral relations based on mutual peaceful co-existence
with all the other non-somaliland Somalis as well as all peace loving Nations. Make no mistake
the S/land Nation have no ill-will against the Kenya Darood-Ogaden and is only to defend her
interests like any other.
Cheers.
Kayse,
What is wrong with you, dude? You are so negative against anything that is Ethiopian. What the hell is your problem? how can you label the Ethiopian airlines as " the arrogant Ethiopian Airlines". It was this country's airlines that was flying in the skies of Somaliland before anyother dared to do so. Please stop being irritant/allergic to anything Ethiopian. You like it or not, Ethiopia is the most strategic country for Somaliland. We are destined to live adjacent to each other.
Excellent, congratulations to the Kenyans for developing this link.
No doubt there is money to be made from linking Somaliland and Kenya, which means that Somaliland's economic potential is being recognised outside of Somaliland. Good news.
I just went to their website and found out that a single journey from Hargeisa to Nairobi will cost nearly $1000. It's extortion but good to see Somaliland attracting foreighn airlines.