(08-08-23) MOGADISHU – The Airline Operators Association of Somalia held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss recent developments surrounding all Somali airlines operating flights to Kenya. These developments have caused alarm and discontent within the Somali aviation sector.
The press conference was called to address concerns arising from measures taken by the Ministry of Transport and the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, which have faced criticism from various airlines.
Recent agreements with the Kenyan government regarding the withdrawal of Somali airlines have significantly impacted the industry. Although cooperation talks with Kenya Airways are in progress, the process by which the agreement was reached has been widely criticised by the Somali government as disgraceful. The terms of the agreement exclusively designates Kenya Airways and Africa Airlines as the sole operators for travel between the two countries.
The negotiation process was highly unbalanced, with the Kenyan side represented by 11 members from various legal bodies, while the Somali government’s team consisted of just four officials from the ministry. No lawyers or officials from civil aviation or Airline Association were present, leading to concerns over fairness and transparency.
Moreover, the agreement’s terms have raised serious questions over the potential economic benefits for Somali citizens. Despite the investment of considerable time and effort into passing the Civil Aviation Act (Aviation Act), a piece of legislation that has brought the agency to world-class standards (from G-A level), concerns are now growing that transportation fares may become monopolized, adding a burden to travellers.
Perhaps most concerning is the decision to allow only Kenya Airways to operate Nairobi-Mogadishu flights, effectively halting all Somali airline operations. This decision could have far-reaching consequences, affecting thousands of Somalis and others who depend on these services.
