BY ANTHONY K. BOSCO
CorrespondentAnthony covers Eastern Equatoria for New Times
Airlines are cashing in on Independent celebrations, as passengers rush in, fearing the government may increase the number of no-fly days.
This is despite the central government curtailing flights to the south, or travel by badge at Kosti.
In fact, some aviation officials say some flights from Khartoum are fully booked until the July 9.
An airport official in Juba, even suggested to New Times that some flights may stop by July 7th – a whole two days before D-Day.
At Feeder Airline’s Juba Town office, one member of the staff said they are “not working” though a note at the entrance to their office reminded customers to turn up before midday to collect their tickets. Feeder Airlines recently said their planes are undergoing check up.
Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said last week that flights will continue until July 8, when the Airport will be cleared to receive Independence Day dignitaries, but potential travelers are suspicious and worried they may be stranded on the wrong side of the divide.
“I am unhappy at how authorities are treating us…on the first day we were blocked from entering the port (Mina’a),” a mother in Kosti told New Times by telephone.
Earlier, rumors of a three-day closure of the airport sent would-be-passengers into panic.
Mustafa Ali who by Wednesday flew to Khartoum to visit his family before coming for the celebrations in Juba says, he was prompted to book a return flight for 5th July because people were saying that no flights will leave or land in Juba by 7th July.
“Many people still want to travel around before independence,” Mustafa told New Times. “But when the news came to me that flights would stop by seventh; I had to book two weeks back for a return flight, too.”
The delays at Kosti prompted the Government of Southern Sudan to issue a statement.
Said Barnaba: “We are asking that there are ordinary citizens from Northern Sudan who will try to join us in the celebrations, we are telling them, you are also welcome to attend because this celebration is a celebration of peace not an occasion of war”
The decision by KQ to fly two times a day out of Juba could ease some of the pressure. Already Jetlink flies in and out two times a day. Other major careers include Ethiopian and Air Uganda.
However, the decision to stop flights on July 8 is still giving many airline officials a headache.
Kelly Nyakang, a reservations and ticketing officer at Air Uganda Juba said the day suspension would affect their customers. Customers may have to make advance bookings and suspend some journeys.
Some don’t see any serious impact – after all, independence celebrations mean people will be stationery in Juba, celebrating.
“It comes as a relief though such suspension may not affect seriously,” Kagwa Jonas, said as he awaited his flight out of Juba.
“It is likely that on that day shops will be closed and every body will be celebrating the birth of the new nation. I am sure that even on that day, nobody will have the strength to stay doing business as it will be a day for people to celebrate.”
