Tue, Jun 24, 2008
Sudan Airways, Slated For Grounding, Allowed To Continue
Operations
Slated to begin a two-week
suspension Monday by the Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, Sudan
Airways was given a last minute reprieve by the government leaving
many to wonder if the airline was truly safe to fly.
The airline is still recovering from the
crash of one of its flights two weeks ago in
Khartoum, killing 30 people. Reuters adds the 60-year old airline
has a poor air safety record, especially on domestic flights... and
many believed the suspension was needed for the sake of air
traveler safety.
The Civil Aviation Authority contends the suspension was not
related to the crash, but was due to administrative failures such
as not updating operations manuals.
"Last night (Sudan Airways) appealed to the director general of
the Civil Aviation Authority and they have been granted a
resumption on the condition that after two weeks the company will
face another audit," said CAA spokesman Abdel Hafiz Abdel
Rahim.
The reprieve from CAA Director-General Abu Bakr Jaafar came only
hours before the suspension was slated to begin. It should be
noted Jaafar sits on the board of directors of the airline, but the
CAA says he holds no shares in the company.
CAA Spokesman Abdel Rahim said a new decision would be taken on
the airlines status if the airline did not pass the audit in two
weeks time.
The reprieve outraged many in Sudan who had welcomed the
suspension. One travel agent who declined to be named described the
CAA reprieve as "irresponsible".
"How can we feel safe on the planes now?" asked traveller Salah
Abdallah.
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