Up to 20 flights land, take off at Kabul Airport daily

KABUL (Pajhwok): The number of domestic and international flights from and to Kabul Airport has increased while the use of Afghanistan airspace by international flights declined seven times, an official said on Saturday.

ImamuddinAhmadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation and Aviation, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Kabul Airport and other airports in the country stopped functioning after the fall of the previous regime.

He said in the first days of the new government up to five flights landed and took off from Kabul Airport while after rehabilitation and operational activities resumption, up 20 domestic and international flights were being conducted at the Kabul Airport.

“Up to 20 flights are conducted on a daily basis, three to four flights are domestic and remaining are international flights to Pakistan, Iran, the UAE and Turkey,” he said.

According to Ahmadi, after the Islamic Emirate takeover, the Kabul Airport was not functioning for some days but a rehabilitation work was conducted and the facility was made operational for local and international flights.

Chartered flights to Qatar or Saudi Arabia are taking place and two cargo flights take off for China on a weekly basis.

Referring to the use of airspace by foreign flights, he said: “In the past from 300 to 350 flights used Afghanistan airspace but currently this number has declined to 50 flights.”

“Regarding the use of Afghanistan’s airspace, there is need for a new contract and talks in this regard are underway with Turkish and Qatar technical officials to ensure 24 hours service with improved capacity.”

He said efforts were on to ink Afghanistan airspace security contract with a renowned global company.

Government Deputy Spokesperson InamullahSamangani acknowledge Ahmadi’s statement and said Afghanistan airports were ready for any kind of flights and no challenge was existing in this regard.

He said Kabul Airport was controlled by Afghans while Turkey and Qatar provided technical support.

nh/ma

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