UNCERTAINTY OVER ONGOING VIOLENCE PROMPTS AIRLINES TO HALT FLIGHTS
(Posted 10th July 2016)
Kenya Airways just issued a brief statement via social media that the airline has, for the time being, suspended flights to Juba, South Sudan’s capital.
During the morning did fresh reports emerge of yet more gunfire and as a result has the following been posted on Kenya Airways’ Facebook page:
‘We wish to advise our guests that we have suspended flights to Juba, South Sudan due to uncertain security situation. We will advise you when the circumstances change and thank you for your continued support’.
RwandAir too has acted on the situation in Juba, where according to one local source again all hell broke loose in the morning as gunfire and mortar rounds flew between the hostile parties.
Said the RwandAir statement:
‘Dear Esteemed customer,
This is to inform you that our flights to and from Juba (South Sudan) have been cancelled today Sunday 10 July 2016 due to the prevailing security situation in Juba.
We will closely monitor the situation and keep you informed of our flights operations to and from Juba.
We are informing and assisting all concerned passengers through the contacts provided in their bookings.
Should you need any assistance,please contact our ground operations team in Juba on +211 956 411 523 or in Entebbe on
+256772614077 or in Kigali on +250788177000.
We sincerely apologise for the inconveniences caused’.
Both airlines must be commended to have taken that step in the interest of the safety and security of their passengers, crew and aircraft, which are particularly vulnerable during the final phase of landing and the early stages of take off.
More information will be posted here as and when details are available of flights either resuming or remaining suspended.
Meanwhile has a flood of people reached the Ugandan border at Nimule trying to get out of South Sudan while the fighting is going on.
