Somalia to license all airlines operating within its skies

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MOGADISHU, Somalia - All airlines operating within the Somalia airspace will be licensed, Transport and Aviation Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Salat said, adding that the process has since been unveiled, and would target companies that have complied with aviation rules.

While speaking to reporters, the minister said his department will fast track the process, adding that the move aims at improving the country's domestic revenues in order to bolster the local economy which has struggled for ages.

“We will soon be registering airlines and issuing licenses,” he said, adding that: "This is a steady process which will help us to improve the local economy and we shall ensure that those who qualify are allowed to operate."

Most of the activities pertaining to registration, he noted, would start taking place in July, when many nations across the world would have opened their skies after months of closure due to raging Coronavirus pandemic.

“From the coming months, we will begin to provide the services needed by airlines such as licensing and registration of aircraft," he said, noting that the processes shall be done without discrimination.

Somalia closed its airspace in March this year as a precaution to combat Coronavirus spread, and the country is yet to reopen. Early this month, there were plans to reopen the airspace but the FGS dropped the move under unclear circumstances.

Will almost dysfunctional infrastructure such as roads and unending Al-Shabaab attacks, air transport is the most efficient and safest mode of transport in Somalia but is only affordable to the middle-class population, who are, however, few when compared with the overall population.

Also, many humanitarian agencies operating in the country prefer air transport for security reasons. But last month, two aircraft from Kenya were attacked further raising doubts about the safety of the air transport.

This week, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo signed the much needed Civil Aviation Bill into law, a move that will further strengthen the management of airspace. Ahmed Moalim Hassan was appointed the Director-General.

"Somali airspace belongs to the Somali people," Farmajo said in a statement. "After leading our nation in reclaiming control of our airspace, H.E Farmaajo has signed the Somali Civil Aviation Act; another milestone towards the revive and recovery of our aviation after nearly 30 years," added Abdinur Mohamed, the Villa Somalia Director of Communication.

The US termed the move historic with Ambassador Donald Yamamoto saying that Washington will work closely with the federal government of Somalia to improve the air transport sector in the country, which has struggled to stabilize for many decades.

Amb. Yamamoto and the US Somalia team congratulate Somalia on the enactment of the Civil Aviation Law formally establishing the Somali Civil Aviation Authority under the newly nominated DG Ahmed Moallin. We look forward to working with you on improving the air transport sector," US embassy said in a statement.

Somalia mainly depends on Aden Adde International Airport as the major international entry to the country but there are many airports that are controlled by federal member states and the northern breakaway Somaliland region.

GAROWE ONLINE

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