Wednesday March 6, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has demanded the immediate release of flights detained at Aden Adde Airport. Barre's demand followed his visit to the airport, stemming from disputes between the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, airport authorities, and several airlines operating within Somalia. This visit also came in the wake of passenger complaints over additional fees levied by airport authorities, causing delays.
During his visit, Prime Minister Barre spoke with numerous passengers affected by the disagreements between the Ministry of Transport and the airlines. He apologized for the disruptions and assured measures would be taken to prevent future incidents.
The standoff, which resulted in the suspension of flights at Aden Adde Airport, reportedly stems from a new $9 per passenger fee imposed on Somali-owned airlines. The dispute escalated when MP Ali Saeed Fiqi was among the many stranded at the airport. Footage from the airport showed chaos as hundreds were prevented from travelling. Fiqi shared his experience of being uninformed about flight statuses, emphasizing the lack of communication from authorities.
Subsequently, the dispute led to the suspension of domestic flight operations, with the airlines protesting the additional fees as a significant financial burden on travellers. Deputy Abdirahman Abshakur has voiced concerns about the conditions at the airport and called for government intervention to address passengers' difficulties.
Despite a partial resumption of flights yesterday afternoon, the conflict revolves around the Ministry of Transport and Aviation's new policy, which requires entering passenger information into a system operated by Hornlink. While this system is claimed to be secure, it adds a $9 fee to each ticket, increasing costs for airlines and passengers alike. Attempts to reach the ministry for a statement were unsuccessful; however, Prime Minister Barre has ordered the clearance of all impeded flights.