Hargeisa, 15 June 2009 — Daallo airlines has launched a new luxury, daily nonstop services connecting Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa to number of cities in Africa, Middle East and Europe using it’s new fleet – the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner.
The DC-9 passenger Jet can carry 91 passengers; 75 people in economy class and 16 business class passengers and its flight crew. The airliner has long been known for its reliability and efficiency.
The first Daallo airline DC-9 passenger jet arrived at Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport at 10:30 am, on time, on Sunday by a French flight crew. The carrier was met at the VIP terminal by cheerful political dignitaries, influential members, business executives, media personnel and community leaders who were invited to the occasion.
Among those who attended this historical inaugural flight were the chairman of Somaliland’s House of Elders, Mr Saleban Mohamud Adan, Chairman of the Somaliland parliament, Mr Abdirahman Mohamed Abbdillahi (‘Iro‘), Member of Parliament, Sheikh Mohamed Adan, Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Ali Mohamed (‘Waran Ade‘), former Somaliland Foreign Minister, Ms Edna Adan Ismael, President of WHO [Hargeisa], Ms Asiya, business executives from Dahabshiil, Telesom and Daallo airline’s Hargeisa employees and management staff.
Daallo Airline’s Hargeisa chief executive Mr Munir Haji Abdullahi told Somalilandpress that Daallo is the oldest private carrier to operate in Somaliland.
“Daallo has been operating in Somaliland for very long time from the time of the civil war when we started with old carriers, in fact, the legs would not even fold, we use to circulate around the city three times before landing. People use to wait for such a long time. Today however we brought a new luxury airliner, the DC-9 configured for 75 people in economy-class and 16 in the business-class.”
Mr Munir concluded that they will expand their flights from Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport. “Daallo airlines will operate seven days a week from Hargeisa to all the states. In addition, we will operate two flights to Hargeisa from Nairobi, three flights to Hargeisa from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, four flights to Hargeisa from Dubai, two from Europe to Hargeisa and two flights to Hargeisa from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” Mr Munir told Abdulqani of Somalilandpress.
In recent times, airline business has became one of the hottest industries in Somaliland, where in the last four months two new airliners were created, Suhura airways and Cosob airlines. There are also plans to expand Somaliland international airports to accommodate this surge in flights. Just last week Somaliland’s Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Ali Mohamed traveled to the port city of Berbera to unveil new plans to reconstruct and expand the existing airport due to fears of Hargeisa airport becoming too over crowded. Mr Ali told local media he plans to divert some of the flights to Berbera to ease the pressure on Egal International Airport during busy flights and in times of expansion and repairs.
Mr Ali also told reporters that his staff are expecting new equipments from Djibouti that will enable them to expand and construct a new highway for Egal International Airport to give motors better access.
Daallo airlines is the market leader in the industry and has been introducing customer-driven schemes and attractive fares due to competition from the new carriers. Most passengers complain about Daallo airline’s noisy old Russian jets, lack of proper ventilation and often over crowded. Will the new McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jets restore passenger’s confidence with Daallo? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure, its new day for Daallo airlines and Somaliland.
About Daallo:
Daallo Airlines was established 1991 by two prominent Somaliland investors Mohamed Haji Abdullahi Abusita and Mohammed Ibrahim Yasin (Olaad). In early 2008, it entered a strategic partnership with Dubai World’s subsidiary Istithmar World Aviation and the Government of Djibout. It’s fleet consisted of 757-200, 727-200, AN24, with IL76 and AN12 for the cargo operations until today. It plans to become Djibouti’s National flag carrier, giving Daallo exclusive access to all routes and traffic rights held by the Republic Djibouti.
Abdulqani Hussein Baynax.
Source: Somalilandpress
I can see the competition is going to be tough this year. It is the summer time and those airlines must improve their services and planes.
Good to see Daallo taking the right path here.
I admire Daallo however I heard all the negative comments everyone had against them. I never traveled with them but its good news Daallo is opening a new chapter in the aviation industry, we all heard it has merged or sold some of its shares to Dubai World, but we have not seen any of that investment as travelers. Daallo where is the money from Dubai World? Time to spread your wings, and thank you for flying us all those tough days. Daallo has special place in Somaliland.
Waiting for a long time.
good work daalo
Daallo is a sad story. Just bad news all around. I wanted to fly my family from Canada back to Djibouti because a direct link from Paris to Djibouti. It was not possible. That was very annoying specially during the school vacation period. For them it would have been a good business time with hundreds of families wanting to go back. The agency told me that Daallo isn't serious. The business went to Yemenia with a sleep over in Sanaa. I hope with this so called new chapter they will put their act together.
woow this is good news
1 word of my experiences in 2008 with Dallo-Disaster.but looks like they ve taken all the critisms annd improved their services.Well Done.
Treu Daalo is the first fly landed in Hargeisa Airport from Djibouti I was Witnes at that moment
Say what you say about Dallo but I admire their courage they took risk where others couldnt
Yes, credit to Daallo for being the first to establish the service when the country was devastated – it really was a lifeline. But this was a very long time ago, and for such a long time we have been paying a premium for a standard of service far below what any low budget airline would dare to offer, only because there was no alternative. Nevertheless, credit to Daallo for improving its service at last. I suspect that we have had to wait an awful lot longer for this improvement had it not been for the increased competition from new airline companies in recent years, so it is credit to them too.
well done
This is an old aircrat (40 years old).
This company is continuing its cheep way of doing business.
Dont beleive what they say
what is ronge with u people can u do what they are doing .! i gess not they connect somalia to the would so bite your tunges and get a life and i have bean on daallo arlines they are realy good they have com from nothing to something can u you saye the same thing about your selfs.?
can same 1 plz tell Daallo Website
May Allah shower His blessings in Somaliland.United people with a single voice erected this government regardless of their tribal identitiy.
It has obvoiusly become a symbol of peace to the rest of Somalia.Please,note this:United we stand,divided we fall.
WHERE IS DALLO??? WE MISS YOU!!