Afghan Airline Starts Foreign Flights

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 25, 2002

Afghan Airline Starts Foreign Flights

Afghanistan's first international flight from Kabul arrived Thursday in Delhi, signifying efforts by the new government to restore normal links with the rest of the world.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Afghanistan's first international flight from Kabul arrived Thursday in Delhi, signifying efforts by the new government to restore normal links with the rest of the world.

It has been nearly five years since Afghanistan's national carrier Ariana Afghan made a voyage to India.

There were 20 people on the flight including Afghanistan's civil aviation and tourism minister, Abdul Raman and the airline's president Rochelle Amman.

The passengers were greeted with garlands at the Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi

There will be a scheduled flight once a week from the Afghan capital to Delhi, said Mr Raman.

The airlines operational problems began earlier during the Soviet invasion in 1979 when International flights ceased and travel to Afghanistan was restricted.

Under Taleban rule, Afghanistan became isolated with very few international flights.

But flights to some destinations such as Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continued.

Most of Ariana Airlines planes were destroyed during the civil war in Afghanistan.

Kabul's international airport reopened to international humanitarian and military flights last week after the UN's Security Council lifted the ban early January.

Kabul's airport was damaged during the American bombing campaign.

It is still in need of repair but Ariana Afghan is the only carrier being allowed to use it for commercial business.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China to Provide US $150 Million of Aid to Afghanistan

US Troops to Remain in Afghanistan at Least for Months: Rumsfeld