Turkish Airlines starts commercial flights to Somalia
Today Turkish Airlines announced it would be the 1st major commercial airline to fly to Somalia's "war-torn-but making-progress" volatile capital, Mogadishu, with a maiden flight in more than 20 years. The airline will operate a 2X-weekly passenger service from Istanbul & although other airlines such as Kenya'sAirKenya Express operate flights into the country, TA is the 1st from outside East Africa since the country descended into anarchy & war in 1991.
It was the latest sign of confidence in growing stability in the Somali capital – & of Turkey's emergence as an influential geopolitical player. TA was the 1st airline to offer renewed international service to Tripoli,Libya after the government of Muammar Gaddafi fell last summer. As a gesture of the importance of this diplomatic milestone, Bekir Bozdag, the Turkish deputy prime minister, was among a high-profile delegation on board the flight from Istanbul's Atatürk airport.
He was welcomed by Somalia's president, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, as well as the acting prime minister, parliamentary speaker & other members of the Somali cabinet. UN ambassadors & other international officials were also present. A group of women danced & sang as the aircraft landed at an airport that for many years was controlled by rival militia groups. Istanbul will host a follow-up to the recent London conference on Somalia in June. (Read more at Garowe Online)