Somaliland
SOMALIA: Turkish Airlines diverts to Nairobi after security scare in Mogadishu
May 20, 2012 · 37 Comments
MOGADISHU — A carrier operated by Turkish Airlines left its Somali passengers stranded in the wrong airport after landing in Kenya rather than their intended destination of Aden Adde airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Friday.
The confusion, an airport official says, stems from security measures that advised the carrier to land from a safe direction to avoid being shot-down by insurgents.
The plane which could not safely land in the given direction due to prevailing winds abandoned the operation all together and dropped its passengers in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international airport.
The passengers were transferred on Saturday to Nairobi-based and regional carrier, African Express Airways, which flew them back to their intended destination.
On Wednesday (16 May) a similar incident left hundreds of Somali passengers stranded in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, after Turkish Airlines landed there rather than Mogadishu. It’s not clear if Turkish Airlines has paid for their transfer or provided them with accommodations.
The international carrier, the only one of its kind, operates twice-weekly flights to the Somali capital via Khartoum. It departs from Ataturk airport, Istanbul, on Tuesdays and Wednesday and returns Thursdays and Fridays according to its schedules.
Including Mogadishu the Turkish carrier flies to over 190 destinations worldwide.
Corruption accusations
Similarly Mogadishu-based Shabelle radio media on Saturday reported that Somali officials in Aden Adde airport were complaining about the current company managing the facility. The handlers, SKA Air and Logistics were said to be acting “virtually with impunity” and practicing wide spread of corruptions.
The station said company officials were accused of “taking unlawful charges from aid planes landing at Mogadishu.” They further pointed out that locals were unhappy because the Dubai-based company was hiring too many foreign workers when over 70 percent of Somalis were unemployed and living under $2 per day.
SKA Air and Logistics signed a contract with Somalia’s transitional government to take over the logistical needs of Mogadishu’s Adden Adde international airport in September 2010.
The company manager in Somalia, Anthony Randerson, this weekend said the company was missing large sums of money after their former accountant fled from the country. It is not clear if he was the one involved in the corruption allegations (see Somalia: ska air and logistic staff on the run with large money).
Somalilandpress
May 19, 2012
Follow @somalilandpressTags: Aden Adden airport, Ethiopia, Kenya, SKA air and logistics, Somalia, Turkish Airlines
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Turkish Airline has to make hub at Berbera Airport, and then use smaller airlines to take the Somalis to Somalia. This is the only safe way for this carrier, otherwise they will end up with unprecedented accident in Mogadishu. It is not safe there, and they should double think before it's too late.
Expensive and huge airplanes like airbusses are not like those used by NGSs and UN affiliated organs, and should be used in safe environment like airport in Somaliland.
It was technical problem between traffic controler and The pilot.using berbera airport nothing wrong put one issue too much dust flying around debris including small hard rock’s it’s safety hazardous for This sort of airline air-bus,if The engine suck These debris defenitly will hit The ground.
Hassan Ali,
Where did you get all this crap story, Berbera having dust and debris? This how low you people can go to discredit Somaliland, while giving excuses for your warlord-ridden Indian ocean war zone aka Mogadishu.
Berbera is the right place for Turkish Airlines, but if the still insist on Mogadishu we wish them a good luck it is their lose not Somaliland's lose. Berbera handles enough traffic already and is not interested Turkish one flight a week affair.
mogadishu have clear paved runway it is the capital city of somali republic and is the most advanced city. that is a fact comparing to berbera is an insult.
mogadisho is poor starving city with disturbing infrastructure, to say that a beoing or an airbus could land there is an insult. if berbera was good enough for NASA then it is more the good enough for the tirkish.
Cool Story Bro!
Have you been in Berbera Airport lately, I was there in January and would not advice any one to use as a Hub.
Ali
Neither Mogadishu nor Berbera is ready for international carriers like Turkish airlines at present. Obviously security and traffic control as well as management is an issue at Mogadishu airport which by the way has the best runways in Somalia and the airport is right next to the ocean.
On Berbera side the runways are not paved and can not handle new airlines worth millions of dollars. East Africa risks its landing because they use cheap old airliners Boeing 727 which costs about $4.5 million per unit (2011) and Turkish Airlines is operating the Airbus A319 which is part of the A-320 family. The airliner is worth over $80 million per unit as of 2011…so you can understand why Africa Express risks its cheap carriers when THY refuses which generates profits more than $5.6 billion dollars as of 2010.
Getting shot down is one thing but deliberately landing in an unpaved runway is another.
THY flies to over 190 airports and knows exactly which airport is fit both financially and infrastructure wise. Mogadishu airport was no accident.
I hope the Council in North Somalia upgrades the airports in Hargeisa and Berbera and the Kuwaiti funds dont end up in the hands of Dahabshiil and Hersi Gaab.
For your information Kayse, Berbera airport is not only paved but has the longest runway at 5Km in the region, it is one of the longest if not the longest in Africa. The runway was first built by the Soviets and designed for their large strategic bombers, it was upgraded by the Americans and as well as being used by their military aircraft they actually had it designated as an emergency landing runway for the NASA space shuttle. So in summary if its good enough for the space shuttle then I guess it more than good enough for an Airbus A-320.
@kayse.
No need to answer some of This silly replies qiute a lot of lost persons Throwing Their hats on The table.keep given us real info about hargiesa & in general somalia.
Thank’s mate
Well said by Keysa ilkacase. Neither the one clan Post independence Airport nor the bullet ridden Shabab controlled Mogadishu ain't ready, the only Airport in Somalia which is capable of handling THY and modernly functioning is Ciise Riyoole International Airport in the capital North East Frontier of Somalia Garoowe.
loool hows pirate business working for u guys :)
looooooooooool it doesnt even have seats in the airport and the toilets are outside (dibada) may allah help you my dear poor pirates. i would think with stealing all of that money that you would atleast put few chairs in that one room terminal.
Turkish airlines made premature judgement of committing unrealistic business expectations in Somalia consequently, the Turkish passenger planes are dropping off passengers like hot potatoes as quick as they can at sporadic locations in Africa so their flight schedule is maintained as per plan.
Granted, the safety of the planes, crew and passengers is very important but the Turkish airliners should be sharing the blame as they realized it was bad business capture without a contingency planning in plane by issuing flight tickets to hundreds of travelers with no insurance nor warranty.
The way it looks now hundreds of passengers are stranded in various places in Africa and the airliners nonchalantly continue their operation as business usual.
Osman Qaal
YEES, Mogadiish is coming back!
trust me it is not coming so if i where you i would remain in the UK and stay on the welfare
Beerbera airport ha longest ruway in the whole of africa. Super cargo Russian plane landed there what is the problem with small or big planes that are not match to super Russian planes. Berbera airport can handle even airbus A380 the biggest plane in the world. But the problem is they need to have arrrival and departure halls which are currently under construction
Kayse,
Please get your facts straight before you start to comment. You're trying to include the size of the planes was one of the factors that the Turkish airlines refused to land at the Mogadishu Int. airport.
That's absolutely untrue, it was a safety reason only. You weren't wise enough to stop there in your misguided comment as you always prefer blabbing on thoughtless nonsense.
the other thing you got it wrong was Berbera, which wasn't one of their back plans, therefore it wasn't an option. You've thrown Berbera in your comment merely to take one of your weak jabs at Somaliland again as usual.
In additionally, a price tag on a passenger plane is irrelevant due to nobody pays with cool cash for it any way, as a matter of fact airliners get units purchases through finance or lease agreements with full coverage insurance coupled with maintenance plans.
As long as the airliners have sound business plan in their books and pre-approved for a loan, then they sing an agreement for the repayment schedule regularly. You sound like you're a used car salesman so please limit your knowledge in your area of expertise.
Osman Qaal
Osman5,get your facts together no one will give you 100% finance for anything even going car dealership need to pay percentage deposit so The airline business,buying air-bus which worth $78 million Atleast The company will need upfront 40% value of The airline & rest finance,every airline whether commercial or Private must have insurance by law international aviation Authorty,That is The way airline industry work’s.
ex Qatar airline Employee.
saalim,
My comment was in the ball park, no specifics. Everyone should read up a lease/finance agreement for a car load before signing on the dotted lines. One doesn't have to be a GM workers to know more about the car dealership policies.
Osman Qaal
Osman5.
you siad lease or finance in your comment which means any country want’s to buy airline could choice one of These options,if you know The difference between lease and finance is, lease it’s not long time contract not buying The plane put renting & get charge very high rate of interest can return any time or swap.
finance is long time contract less interest charge much cheaper put need good percentage deposit The value of The airline,most countries They don’t have enough cash choice finance,Those with spare cash such rich arab countries pay all upfront to avoide interest which xaaram in islam.
ex Qatar airline Employee.
one or two years ago Mugadishu was one of the most dangerous place in the world and now its slowly recovering soon Turkish airlines and others will land Mugadishu without any fear.. something all somalis should be proud of it
khaatumo citizen,
Then pack up bags and leave. Somalis would appreciate your much needed contributions.
We're very proud of that something is working out for our brothers and sisters in the South.
Osman Qaal
osman
what u reffering to north and sourth i only see as Somalia loool besides i never been to Magadishu am planning to go next year for holiday well wish me luck..
I wish a good luck, you might need it..
Osman Qaal
alla maxaa xaasidiin ka buuxa webkaan oo rabo muqdisho in ay dhibaato kadhacdo
allaw xaasidka naga qabo. waligay ma arkin somali sidaan somali kale u neceb bal fiiri waxay leeyihiin diyaarad in ay soo dagto maaha.
Nomads will always never miss an opportunity to hate and wish ill to the other savage next door. The THY landing problems in Mogadishu were in the news recently and everyone knows that the problem is not one of security; it is technical difficulty related to the size of the plane and the angle of approach to the airport.
I know nothing about the tinny one room terminal in Growe without toilets but I have been to Berbera airport. Berbera airport may or may not have the longest runway in the whole of Africa. Berbera Airport may one has been able to handle super cargo Russian planes and may once upon a time served as an emergency landing spot of a shuttle although never used for that purpose – but I did not see any paved tarmac as my plane landed there and this was the airport lounge as I found it http://bit.ly/K16K80
Go get a life folks. Let us stop the lies and the hate.
Perhaps Mr Allemagan the bright sun played a trick on your vision. Berbera airport is paved as can be seen from Google Earth.
is that tree the berbera airstrip the lounge? oh my days this is gross
http://bit.ly/K16K80
The airport lounge under The tree,forget about i am not gone land Air-bus which worth $76 million This place,i could even see cows & goats criss crossing dusty tarmac.
may once has been able to handle – that is
Some of these guys debate like little kids. "No come play in my playground it has former Russian slide" then you hear "No come to mine because it has my name on it", "no no mine is always the original one".
I am not sure why this website attracts half brainers and kids.
Mogadishu is the Somali capital and just because its that it does mean all business activities should go there; this was the mistake made by Siad Bare; it amazes me some of you still believe in this out-dated thinking. In the modern world, most nations have relocated their capitals to tiny towns infact and don't care about if corporate businesses swallow up international embassies and government departments.
Mogadishu airport is the only airport in Somalia with a fully paved tarmac and was recently renovated by Turkish agencies and engineers not to mention they are adding a new terminal worth $150 million.
Airports in Hargeisa and Berbera are both unpaved and the planes land in a semi-dirt runways…which can only handle light air-crafts such as those BOEING 727.
Having said that the two airports in north Somalia are currently under going reconstruction and the Kuwait government has donated $10 million for the project.
The Garowe airport is similar to the one in Buhoodle, basically it has nothing and only Daallo lands there.
Bosaasso airport is also small and the biggest investment it ever received was $500,000 from Australian oil explorer Rangers.
Now you do the maths $4.6 million plane vs $80.6 million plane. $10 million airports vs $150 million airport vs $500,000 regional airport.
Investments and capital is what the world considers as a unit of measurement for a value of something not how long it is or short, wide or high.
Berbera airport has the longest runway it doesn't mean it has more traffic than Jomo Kenyatta…South African airports, Djibouti or even Mogadishu.
The runway was only built as an emergency landing for NASA…that does not mean it was good enough for NASA….it meant they would land a BURNING spaceship there…something already in a state of emergency….not in working conditions.
It was never used and the sand swallowed up that runway and the tarmac disappeared after 30 years of no maintenance.
THY should come to my backyard….thats how you guys are putting this thing.
lol burning space ship!
@Kayse
I totally agree with your comment. Everything is being contested here similar to a fight on a camel well. How pathetic!
Mogadishu airport:
Direction: 05/23
Length: 9,901 ft (3,018 meter)
Surface: Paved
Berbera Airport
Direction: 05/23
Length: 13,582 ft (4,140 meter)
Surface: Paved but covered with debris and no instrument landing system
Bosaaso Airport
Direction: 01/19 Length: 3,666 ft (1,117 meter) Surface: Dirt
Direction: 09/27 Length: 5,794 ft (1,766 meter) Surface: Dirt
The key word in regards to NASA using Berbera is emergency. If you are so happy about being used as an emergency and it means so much for you then you are missing out so much, you rather settle for too little.
Berbera airport can become a hub once Somalis find a unity government and the government invests in the expansion of Berbera's seaport and airport facilities as well as the Berbera corridor. If highway is built that can reduce the travel time from Berbera to Hargeisa, Burao or even Djibouti, some people might prefer the route.
But if Hargeisa has its own airport, I doubt Berbera will even become a hub for north Somalia let alone the region.
Its too hot, small population and I'm not sure if people want to be cooked up.
Brothers, facts are facts no matter how you twist it. I agree Hargeisa airport is not fit for modern airlines to land. Its infra structure is lacking. Berbera airport is much better but needs improvements. Reality is both these airports are under construction. Once this work is done both airports would have a great potential to be in the leading airports of horn. Every Somali should be happy about that even the Xaartumo dude. Mogadisho we wish the best for and I hope it beats Nairobi kinyati airport which I dislike how they treat Somalis regardless of where they hail from North or South.