Afghanistan civil aviation body says Kabul airport ready for international flights

FILE PHOTO: A member of Taliban stands outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Picture: Reuters

FILE PHOTO: A member of Taliban stands outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Picture: Reuters

Published Oct 4, 2021

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Kabul - Afghanistan's civil aviation body said that the Kabul airport is ready for international flights and technical issues have been resolved in recent days, a media report said.

The country's civil aviation authority announced on Saturday that Kabul airport is completely operational, domestic flights have started at the airport and the facility is ready for international flights to resume normal activity, according to TOLOnews.

In recent days, the airport has received some flights from Qatar, Pakistan and the UAE.

Mohammad Naeem Salehi, a spokesperson for the country's civil aviation body, said that the department has written to neighbouring countries and the international community asking them to resume flights at the airport.

"Technically, there is no problem ahead of international flights. We are looking to find answers from neighbouring countries about whether they will start flights to Kabul airport or not. Currently, domestic flights are continuing," TOLOnews quoted Salehi as saying.

Meanwhile, some Afghans - who obtained Iran and Pakistan visas - have complained that the ticket prices have severely surged recently in Kabul.

Locals have complained that either the tickets are not available and if available, the cost is very high.

Some operators of tourism companies have also said that the prices of air travel have increased in Kabul.

Masoud Bina, head of the Afghanistan tourism companies union, said: "Prices for international flights have increased. The price of Pakistan tickets was $150 (about R2 200) to $200 and now they have climbed to $1 200."

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