Somali Airlines to resume operations by the end of the year, transport minister says

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s national carrier, Somali Airlines, will resume operations before the end of this year after more than three decades of inactivity, the country’s minister of transport and civil aviation announced Monday.

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuh stated that both the airline and the necessary equipment were ready for service, and that preparations were in their final stages.

“I want to share good news with the Somali people — before the end of this year, Somali Airlines will officially resume operations,” Nuh told reporters in Mogadishu.

Somali Airlines, once the country’s flagship carrier, halted operations in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government and decades of civil conflict. Its revival has been a long-term goal for the federal government as part of efforts to rebuild national institutions.

Minister Nuh also discussed plans to modernize Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, as well as dozens of regional airports across the country. He said Somalia currently has 72 airstrips, many of which require renovation and upgrading.

“We need to show the world that our airports are safe and reliable,” Nuh said. “If we can’t yet reach the standards of developed countries, we should at least match those of our neighbors. Fifteen airports are already under renovation, and some projects are near completion.”

He urged politicians and citizens to respect airport regulations, saying orderliness was key to maintaining international aviation standards.

The announcement marks a major milestone in Somalia’s aviation sector, as the government moves to relaunch Somali Airlines after 33 years of dormancy.

GAROWE ONLINE