Somalia: Names of regional airlines that fly directly into the North, particularly Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Bossaso (also spelled as Bosaso) (Puntland)

22 November 2010
SOM103614.E
Somalia: Names of regional airlines that fly directly into the North, particularly Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Bossaso (also spelled as Bosaso) (Puntland)Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Flights to Hargeisa

An employee responsible for reservations at East African Safari Air indicated in correspondence with the Research Directorate that the airline offers flights to Hargeisa from Kenya on Tuesdays and Saturdays (5 Nov. 2010). The Reservations Employee stated that the flight takes two hours; a one-way ticket costs US$310 and a return trip costs US$620 (5 Nov. 2010). Similarly, Air Guide for the Frequent Flyer reports that there are twice-weekly flights on East Africa Safari Air from Kenya to Hargeisa (22 Feb. 2010). News agency AllAfrica.com further corroborates that East African Safari Air offers a direct, non-stop flight to Hargeisa from Kenya (1 Feb. 2010).

A representative from an international non-governmental organization (NGO) interviewed as part of a fact-finding mission undertaken by the United Kingdom also noted that there are flights to Hargeisa from Nairobi (UK 8 Oct. 2010, 13). The representative further indicates that the following airlines operate flights within Somalia: African Express, Puntair, Jubba and Daallo (ibid.).

A travel site indicates that Daallo Airlines provides direct flights from Djibouti to Hargeisa (99Airlines n.d.). In addition to flights to Hargeisa from Kenya, Somalilandpress indicates that Daallo Airlines offers four flights a week to Hargeisa from Dubai in a "luxury" airplane that offers 75 economy-class seats (Take Off Africa 15 June 2009). The report quotes Daallo's chief executive as saying that the airline is "the oldest private carrier operating in Somaliland" and has been operating there for "a very long time" (ibid.).

According to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, Daallo Airlines is on the list of airlines banned by the European Union (EU) (EU 8 Sept. 2010b). In introducing its regularly updated list of banned airlines, the European Commission's website states:

Whilst the European Union and its Member States are working with safety authorities in other countries to raise safety standards across the world, there are still some airlines operating in conditions below essential safety levels.

To improve safety in Europe further, the European Commission - in consultation with Member States aviation safety authorities - has decided to ban airlines found to be unsafe from operating in European airspace. (EU 8 Sept. 2010a)

According to the Jubba Airways website, Jubba Airlines also offers direct flights from Dubai to Hargeisa (Jubba Airways n.d.). Further information on direct flights from Dubai to Hargeisa could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Flights to Bossaso

The website of African Express Airways indicates that the airline offers flights to Bossaso (also spelled Bosaso) from Kenya (n.d.). In addition, the Jubba Airways website indicates that the airline flies to Bossasso from Dubai (n.d.).

UNICEF reports that there are also flights, which are commonly unregulated, that leave daily from Wilson airport in Kenya and travel to various locations in Somalia delivering khat, "a widely chewed amphetamine akin to the coca leaf of South America" (UN n.d.). UNICEF states that travellers take these flights at their own risk (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

99Airlines.com. N.d. "Direct Flights from Djibouti to Hargeisa." [Accessed 14 Oct. 2010]

African Express Airways. N.d. "Our Destination." [Accessed 5 Nov. 2010]

Air Guide for the Frequent Flyer. 22 February 2010. "AirGuide-Airport News Africa/Middle East." (Factiva)

AllAfrica.com. 1 February 2010. "Direct Flights to Somaliland Launched." (Factiva)

East African Safari Air. 5 November 2010. Correspondence with a reservations employee.

European Union (EU). 8 September 2010a. European Commission (EC). Directorate-General for Energy and Transport. "Air Safety: List of Airlines Banned Within the EU." [Accessed 4 Nov. 2010]

_____. 8 September 2010b. European Commission (EC). Commission Regulation (EU) No 791/2010 of 6 September 2010 Amending Regulation (EC) no 474/2006 Establishing the Community List of Air Carriers which are Subject to an Operating Ban within the Community. Official Journal of the European Union. [Accessed 18 Nov. 2010]

Jubba Airways. N.d. "Flights from Dubai." [Accessed 14 Oct. 2010]

Somaliland Press. 15 June 2009. Abdulgani Hussein Baynax. "Somaliland: Daallo Airline Introduces New Jets and Flights." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2010]

United Nations (UN). N.d. United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF). "UNICEF in Somalia: Questions & Answers for the Media." [Accessed 26 Oct. 2010]

United Kingdom (UK). 8 October 2010. Home Office. Somalia: Report of Fact Finding Mission to Nairobi, 8-15 September 2010. (Refworld) [Accessed 14 Oct. 2010]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: A travel agent from American Express Airlines and a representative from African Express Airways were unable to provide information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sites, including: Abbay Media, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), The Guardian [United Kingdom], The Ottawa Citizen, Skyscanner, Travel Industry Today, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Humanitarian Air Service.