Ariana Afghan Airlines is to soon begin flights from Khost province to the United Arab Emirate, an official said.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation, Imamuddin Ahmadi, also stressed that efforts are underway to provide all types of facilities in the airports. “Efforts are underway to begin flights from Khost airport to Al Ain city of the UAE. These flights will provide the Afghans with further facilities,” he said.
According to the MoTCA, since the Islamic Emirate came to power, several airline companies including Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Kish, Mahan-Taban and Yazd Airways have resumed flights to Afghanistan.
“Tourism facilitates trade and plays an important role in the economic growth of a country,” said Seyar Qureshi, an economist.
“As much as these flights increase and provide the ground for transport of commodities, it will put a positive impact on the Afghan economy,” said Mir Shikib, an economist.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that a surge in international flights will boost Afghan trade with the world. This comes as an Iranian airline, Yazd Airways, conducted its first flight from Tehran to Mazar-e-Sharif on Saturday.
The first international flight landed in the recently completed airport in the eastern province of Khost on Monday. An Ariana Afghan Airlines’ fight arrived from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The flight carried over 80 passengers from Dubai to Khost, most of whom were Khost residents or from neighboring provinces. “Fortunately, this flight is the first international flight happening in Khost province,” said Mohammad Salim Rahimi, acting director of Ariana Afghan Airlines. Local flights used the airport about one and a half months earlier.
Residents of the southeastern province welcomed the start of the international flights in the province, and they said that it makes it easy for them and for the residents of the neighboring provinces to travel locally and internationally to and from Khost airport instead of traveling to Kabul or other domestic airports.
The residents say the airport will help them develop business in the province. “Khost is one of the strategic zones in the country; the start of the flights will provide many opportunities for the people,” said Ghulam Jeelani Wafa, director of the flight standards department at the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA).
The Khost airport has cost 900 million Afghanis ($ 11.5M) and taken the last 10 years. According to the ACCA, international flights will continue in the province every week and be carried out by local airlines. —Tolonews
