A chorus of dissent has erupted from citizens of Darfur in response to a 20 per cent hike in airfares to and from the region. Reasons for the fare rise conflict. Darfuris are also calling on the Khartoum government to lift restrictions imposed last year on travel on Unamid flights.<\/p>\n
As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, a decision last week by private airlines Tarco, Marsland Aviation, Sun Air, and Badr Airlines to raise fares on flights to and from Darfur only, has prompted angry reactions in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe citizens of Darfur have escalated rejection of the decision taken by the Sudanese airlines, and demand they reconsider the decision so that Darfur might not be isolated,\u201d a source told Radio Dabanga.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also demanding cancellation of the decision taken by the Khartoum government last year, prohibiting travel of citizens of Darfur via Unamid flights,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The activist asserted that the citizens have also harshly criticized the state governments of Darfur as well as the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) for \u201cnot standing behind the challenges\u201d faced by Darfuris.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe families of the DRA are traveling at the expense of Darfur people,\u201d he said, pointing out that the 2012 decision to restrict travel by Darfuris via Unamid flights \u201cwas enacted on the initiative of a memorandum from those same airlines, who appealed to Parliament to protect their business interests\u201d.<\/p>\n
He accused the airlines of \u201cdepriving citizens, patients and students of travel\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a show of solidarity with citizens, the legislative council of South Darfur state has reportedly threatened to \u201cboycott all airlines operating in the state if they don\u2019t reverse the increase in the prices of airline tickets\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Deputy General Manager of Tarco Airlines, Major Mohamed Abdul Rasul, said that \u201cthe Civil Aviation Authority of Sudan has taken the decision on ticket prices\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Chairman of the Chamber of Air Transport, Captain Saiyf Al Din Marzouk, attributed the decision issued by the Civil Aviation Authority to “the high prices of fuel and the difficulty in obtaining hard currency”.<\/p>\n
As previously highlighted by Radio Dabanga, the current security situation in Darfur makes road travel hazardous. Air travel is therefore the only \u201csafe\u201d means of moving between Darfur and Khartoum.<\/p>\n
File photo<\/em><\/p>\n Related: <\/em>Airfare hike riles Darfuris<\/a> (1 September 2013)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n