New transport reforms introduced, openness to private sector [Archives:2006/941/Business & Economy]
Mahyoub Al-Kamali
Yemen recently adopted a new transport reform package incorporating qualifying airports and openness to Yemen's private sector.
In this regard, the government approved a Ministry of Transport memorandum regarding opening Yemeni airspace to international aviation traffic. The plan includes qualifying airports, increasing visa granting facilities, canceling taxes and duties on air trips, as well as facilities required for ground services at airports. The plan takes into account benefiting from experiments of countries with similar circumstances and as part of an open airspaces program adopted according to agreements of joint Arab action.
The government endorsed the ministry's proposed phased program to implement the open airspace policy at Yemeni airports, deciding currently to begin opening airports to special direct flights and air freight movement, while at the same time working to qualify and develop all airports to be ready to receive different flights.
Yemen's Cabinet gave directives granting all authority to institutions working at land crossings to perform their tasks dynamically, in addition to facilitating traffic movement and transporting goods and passengers.
The Cabinet emphasized rehabilitating Yemeni Airways Company in line with developments witnessed by the air transport industry sector and enabling it to compete at the level of qualitative services offered to passengers.
Yemeni Airways Company recently approved a group of measures to expand its network of internal and external lines with the purpose of expanding the firm's local and external air transport services. Measures include operating several direct flights such as daily flights to Cairo and Dubai and nine non-stop flights to Europe, as well as covering more than three foreign and domestic stations.The company concluded cooperation agreements with nine Arab air firms to connect its transport in the Middle East and North Africa, in addition to agreements with international air firms to carry passengers via a large international flight network. It also amended its winter flight schedule, which will begin October 30.
Such measures aim to improve passenger services on board the firm's airlines, endeavor to offer the best services in air freight and connect Yemen with the world to help realize tourist advancement and provide Yemen's economy with hard currency. Improvement measures also aim to create a connection between Yemeni expatriates and their homeland and enhance economic and trade cooperation between Yemen and various world nations.
Yemeni Airways sources mentioned that the company is holding talks with Airbus and Boeing firms to purchase a number of Airbus 350 and Boeing 787 airplanes as part of its goal to extend its flights to various countries. The firm plans to open a new route to China and several Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, as well as a number of African countries, including Kenya.
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