Somaliland: Ethiopian Airlines Says Egal Airport Meets with Our Safety Standards

Hargeisa, Sep 13,2013 (SDN) –The Ethiopian airlines has officially denied alleged poor standards at Egal Airport as the cause pertaining to its suspension of flights to Somaliland. This is according to an official statement submitted to Somalilandsun and Dawan newspapers signed by Mr. Biniyam Demssie a Public relations officer at Ethiopian airlines headquarters at Bole airport Addis Ababa.

“The Runway and other airport facilities at Egal airport were inspected by our technical team and were found all to be in order and met our requirements to land our Boeing 737 aircraft following which Ethiopian operated B737 to Hargeisa” Said Mr. Demssie

The airlines PRO who was reacting to an article published by Somalilandsun titled “Ethiopian Airlines, Egal Airport, Ministry of Aviation and Stranded Passengers Saga” in which it had been alleged that the withdrawal of flights top Somaliland by the regional carrier was because “Egal airport does not meet Ethiopian airlines safety standards due to poor tarmac runway”

Having that clarified that the withdrawal of services to Somaliland was not occasioned by the alleged poor upgrade of the runway at Egal airport, a telephone interview with Ethiopian Airline PRO Biniyam Demssie and a Mr. Hailu by Somalilandsun and the Dawan media Group managing editor Mohamed Osman Mire “Sayid” also revealed that the airline had not released any comments on reasons behind withdrawal.

Q. If the Egal airport meets with your safety standards as ascertained by your technical team, why has Ethiopian airlines suspended its flights to Somaliland?

A. The public relations office can only verify that the flights suspension has nothing to do with the safety standards of Egal airport.

Q. Then why the withdrawal which was attributed to alleged shoddy upgrade works at the airport?

A. While the Public relations office is not privy to reasons that led to flights suspension, the purported motive “Egal airport does not meet Ethiopian airlines safety standards due to poor tarmac runway” posted in your country’s media are erroneous and we hope that our official statement is enough clarification for the erroneous perceptions attributed to a statement we did not make.

Q. Then who is privy to the attributes leading to flight suspension details.

A. The management of the Ethiopian airlines is currently in a meeting that might end up late and since Saturday and Sunday are not working days here, Addis Ababa, an official statement shall be forthcoming anytime next week.

After the candid interview in which the airline also said it was apologetic to the plight of its passengers stranded for a couple of days in Hargeisa following the abrupt suspension of flights the Public relation officials were also inquisitive on the source of the statement attributed to the airline purporting the poor standards at Egal airport.

PRO: Where did you come across the alleged statement by Ethiopian Airlines?

A. From an article posted by Ethiopianreview.com

PRO: Be informed that Ethiopian Airlines has not released any statement pertaining to its Somaliland flights suspension.

Thank you

The allegations of “Egal airport does not meet Ethiopian airlines safety standards due to poor tarmac runway” attributed to the airline were pooled from an article by ethiopianreview which our investigations have proved is entirely an anti-Ethiopia propaganda site that also tends to concentrate on creating disharmony between Ethiopian people and friendly countries.

As we await farther developments related to the Ethiopian flights suspension saga as of ongoing negotiations in Addis Ababa, the plight of the stranded passengers has been resolved amicably following their transportation to Jig-jiga town in Ethiopia courtesy of the airline where their flights to various destinations were effected satisfactorilly.

By: Yusuf M. Hassan

Source: somalilandsun