Yemen’s first commercial flight takes off after 6 years
THE first commercial flight in six years took off yesterday from Sana’a, Yemen’s capital under the control of the Houthi rebels, as an essential part of the ongoing truce between the Yemeni warring sides.
A Yemen Airways flight, carrying 151 passengers, took off from the Sana’a International Airport bound for Jordan’s capital Amman, airport officials said, adding that another flight is scheduled to arrive in Sana’a from Amman later in the day.
Earlier, the Yemeni national carrier’s plane had arrived in Sana’a from the southern port city of Aden to pick up the passengers. Water cannons sprayed Sana’a airport’s runway when it landed, giving the plane a ceremonial “water salute”.
Many of the passengers are patients who seek urgent medical treatment in Jordan as the crumbling health system in Sana’a is unable to treat them, according to the airport officials.
The flight to Jordan was originally scheduled in April but postponed because of passport issues.
The internationally recognised Yemeni government allowed passengers with Houthi-issued travel documents to board the flight yesterday, according to pro-government media reports. The airport officials said several other flights from and to Sanaa have also been scheduled for the next two weeks.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed the successful operation of the flight.
“I would like to congratulate all Yemenis on this important and longawaited step. I hope this gives some relief to the Yemenis who need to seek medical treatment abroad, pursue education and business opportunities, or reunite with loved ones,” Grundberg said. On August 9, 2016, the Saudi-led coalition imposed restrictions on Yemen’s airspace, resulting in the closure of the Sana’a airport. After that, only planes of the UN and other international organisations are allowed to enter Sana’a Airport, which used to be the largest hub in the country for international travel.
The UN-brokered two-month truce between the government and the Houthi rebels went into effect on April 2. It includes allowing two commercial flights a week to and from the Houthi-held Sana’a airport, the entry of 18 fuel ships, and lifting the siege of the government-held Taiz city.