Sanaa gov: Coalition allows 3 flights from Sanaa to Amman, not enough

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jun 2023 09:12

Sanaa government announces that the Saudi-led coalition has allowed 3 additional flights to Jordan departing from Sanaa International Airport, stressing that this "does not meet the minimum actual need for flights."

Yemenia Airplane carrying war prisoners arrives at Sanaa International Airport, Friday, April 14, 2023 (AP)

The Sanaa government announced, on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition agreed to expand the limited flights through the Sanaa International Airport to include flights to and from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Undersecretary of the Civil Aviation Authority in the Sanaa government, Raed Jabal, stated that "the aggressive coalition's decision to continue to limit flights to and from Sanaa International Airport toward a single destination doubles the suffering of the Yemenis."

Jabal added, "Allowing three additional trips to Jordan does not meet the minimum actual need for trips," noting that "the continuation of trips to one destination increases costs for citizens who wish to travel to other destinations outside Amman."

Jabal called on the Saudi-led coalition to "completely lift the siege on Sanaa airport and allow flights to all destinations" considering it a basic human right.

This came after the Sanaa government accused, last Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition of refusing regular airlines' requests to operate flights to and from Sanaa airport, noting that both Egypt's Cairo and India's New Delhi had agreed to operate flights to the airport.

The government said that the disruption stems from the coalition barring Yemeni airlines and other carriers from conducting flights to these destinations.

Yemen announces first commercial flight from Sanaa to Amman

The Minister of Transport in the Sanaa government, Abdulwahab Yahya Al-Durra, announced, in mid-May, that "The first commercial flight from Sanaa airport, since the beginning of the armistice, will depart to Jordan tomorrow, Monday."

Al-Durra pointed out that "The commercial flight will operate tomorrow, Monday, to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and will return on the same day, via Yemenia Airways."

The minister denied "the existence of any impediment or decision from the United Nations that prevents the continuation of commercial flights from Sanaa airport permanently without linking them to the humanitarian truce... especially since the United Nations inspects and monitors commercial flights."

Earlier, Al-Durra reiterated the technical and professional readiness of Sanaa International Airport to launch all civil and commercial flights.

Al-Durra indicated that Sanaa Airport provides air navigation services to United Nations aircraft, in addition to the UN's affiliated organizations and international humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen on a daily basis. The services are provided by qualified Yemeni cadres certified by UN staff and international humanitarian organizations who make frequent check-ins at the airport.

The advisor of the Supreme Political Council, Mohammed Taher An'am, confirmed in an interview with Al Mayadeen that Sanaa's leadership has been disturbed by the failure of the Saudi side to implement the conditions of the armistice, especially regarding opening the airport and not obstructing the docking of ships.