Hundreds of passengers stranded in Nairobi as Somali airlines suspend flights to Mogadishu
At Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, around 200 passengers scheduled to travel to Mogadishu were stranded early Wednesday morning.
Airlines operating in Somalia have suspended all domestic and international flights starting Wednesday, January 22, 2025, leaving hundreds of passengers travelling to Mogadishu stranded. The suspension follows a dispute with the federal government over tax increases imposed on the aviation sector.
In a statement, the Somali Airlines Operators Association, which represents nearly 20 airlines, announced the suspension, citing unresolved disagreements with the Ministry of Transport and the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) as the primary reasons for the drastic decision.
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"Effective Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Somali Airlines has completely suspended all domestic and international flights until a lasting solution is reached," read the statement.
The decision impacts both local travel and international routes, disrupting services for thousands of passengers.
In response to the announcement, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority issued its own statement dismissing claims of flight disruptions over tax increases.
It warned against the spread of what it called "false information" and provided details on why the airlines have been grounded, saying several aircraft were grounded after inspections revealed maintenance deficiencies.
"The Civil Aviation Authority conducted inspections of domestic aircraft and found issues that could endanger passenger safety. These aircraft cannot fly until repairs are completed in accordance with the law," the SCAA said.
Concerns on operations
SCAA also raised concerns about operational practices within the Somali aviation sector. It pointed to issues such as poor passenger service management and the reliance on other airlines to cover routes due to maintenance delays or a lack of operational aircraft.
"Some airlines operate without planes in the capital, booking passengers through other carriers, which has disrupted service to certain regions," the SCAA said.
In light of these challenges, the administration of Aden Adde International Airport instructed Favori, the private company managing the airport, to deny counter access to airlines without operational planes stationed at the airport.
The suspension of flights has already caused significant disruption to passengers.
At Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, around 200 passengers scheduled to travel to Mogadishu were stranded early Wednesday morning.
The Somali government reportedly grounded three flights intended to transport these passengers.
Similarly, Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport cancelled several domestic flights scheduled to depart. The cancellation forced many passengers, who were waiting to travel to different regions within Somalia, to either make alternative arrangements or postpone their plans.
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