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EAC Regional: Press Releases: ALS Launch Direct Flights to Juba in Southern Sudan |
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Thursday, 10 September 2009 |
Nairobi, 9 September 2009 --- Local airline ALS has launched direct flights out of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) into Juba in Southern Sudan. The new route follows the recent entry of the airline into the Nairobi-Kisumu route.
The Juba service from JKIA will depart at 1400hours and the return from Juba at 1630hours daily, with the maiden flight to Juba scheduled for 15 September 2009.
Speaking during the official launch ceremony held in Nairobi on Wednesday night, Managing Director Aslam Khan said the new routes were part of the expansion strategies of the niche airline operator. “ALS and its partner, AREF Investment Group of Kuwait, have invested over USD30m in this important venture which is a key initiative in our regional expansion strategy”, he said.
The airline has acquired two new Embraer ERJ 135LR Jets to be used on the Nairobi-Juba route and a new Dash 8 that will be used on the Nairobi-Kisumu route. “We will be flying the Nairobi-Juba route daily, serviced by our state of the art modern Embraer 135 LRs. These modern fuel efficient aircraft will not only enhance flight safety, but also make a contribution towards preserving the environment with their reduced gas emission that has become a major global concern”.
On the Kisumu route, the airline will be operating two flights daily serviced by the Dash 8 that carries 37 passengers. The Kisumu route was launched on 21 August 2009 and is enjoying steady growth. The Dash 8 plane is suited for short runway take offs, especially during this time when the Kisumu airport is undergoing repairs and upgrades. The schedule to Kisumu from Wilson Airport is 0730hours and 1700hours respectively.
Captain Ali Dashti, the AREF Investment Group representative, urged the government to do more to support the tourism sector that is a key part of the airline industry. Dashti reiterated the AREF Investment Group’s commitment to the partnership with ALS in growing the Kenyan airline industry, saying that Kenya had some of the best investment markets anywhere in the continent. “Irregardless of all the negative stories about the continent, AREF Investment Group still believes in Africa, which has shown great resilience in the face of the global financial crises”.
ALS is one of a few airline companies that undertake aircraft contracting and aircraft maintenance, that has undergone United Nations audit for safety and approved maintenance standards.
ALS is divided into three sections of airlines management services, including contracting and maintenance, and operates 24 aircraft, making it the second largest operator of its kind in the local aviation industry. “ALS is today a full package company compared to the competition; offering aircraft contracting, insurance, pilot, maintenance and crew services”, added Khan.
The company is the largest contractor in the region specializing in transport of relief cargo and passengers for NGOs, among other specialized needs, with contracting services as far as Qatar, Sudan, Rwanda, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad, Congo etc.
Aircraft contracting to organisations is the core business of ALS, contributing over 85% of its revenue base. Aircraft contracting clients include WFP, WHO ICRC among other airline operators and corporate bodies.
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