Sudan Airways introduces second weekly Nairobi-Khartoum flight
By Ken Ramani, The Standard
NAIROBI, June 27, 2005 — Sudan Airways has introduced a second weekly flight between Nairobi and Khartoum, a senior manager with the airline has said.
John Okoth Daniel, the regional manager, said the Sunday flight will have a stopover in Juba and will be operational within two weeks. The airline operates one weekly flight to Khartoum. The Sunday flight will pass through Juba enroute to Khartoum. “We are introducing a second flight to make it easier for those visiting Juba to leave without having to wait for seven days,” Daniel told The Standard.
He further disclosed that foreigners travelling to Sudan through Juba will not be subjected to normal migration procedures on arriving in Khartoum. “All these procedures will be completed in Juba and the flight will thereafter be considered local,” said Daniel.
Sudan Airways resumed flights on the Nairobi-Khartoum routes on 15 June after a nine year break. Daniel promised patrons low fares.
Nasreldin, the managing director, promised to continue flying modern aircrafts along the route. He said the airline was considering introducing flights to Mombasa, which he described as an international tourist hub. “We are confident that the reopening of the Nairobi route will consolidate bilateral ties between Kenya and Sudan,” said Nasreldin.
Fighting officially ended in the Sudan on January 9, with the signing of a peace agreement between Khartoum and Sudan Peoples Liberation Army. Juba is only accessible from Nairobi through scheduled flights to Lokichogio, in northern Kenya, where travellers must wait for unscheduled connecting flights.
The Sudanese flights have become popular with Kenyans who are flocking southern Sudan for a piece of the reconstruction cake. Economic activity is expected to intensify in the region when disbursement of the 4.8bn dollars pledged by the donor community for reconstruction begins.
Daniel said described business and investment opportunities in Juba as immense and urged Kenyans to take advantage of it. “It is only fair that Kenya makes a strong presence in Southern Sudan and Juba in particular since it hosted and chaired the talks that culminated in the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement,” said Daniel.