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By Gina Gillespie
Forward Media Team, Farah PRT
FARAH CITY, Afghanistan – Farah city is now a regular stop on the Ariana Afghan Airlines schedule. The arrival of the inaugural flight at the Farah airport Saturday morning signalled a new era for development in the province.
The danger of driving through Farah province has kept out many Non-Governmental Organizations and development organizations.
"Ariana Afghan Airlines coming into Farah is critical in opening the door for development agencies to establish themselves in Farah province. One of the big issues with NGOs and public investment is accessibility to Farah province on a regular, recurring basis, and Ariana Afghan Airlines is going to enable that to happen. From a development, capacity building standpoint, today's inaugural flight of Ariana Afghan Airlines into Farah is significant, if not profound," said Navy Cmdr. Frank Hughlett, Farah PRT commander.
He says the arrival of a commercial airline in Farah is the result of a partnership between the PRT and Provincial Governor Mawlawi Mohideen Baluch.
"We appreciate our governor helping our people by arranging for Ariana Afghan Airlines to come to Farah," said Haji Abdul Samad, a local businessman. Mr. Samad was one of four people to purchase a ticket to fly aboard the return flight from Farah City to Kabul. "When we leave Farah city there is a danger of kidnapping. The security situation outside the city is not good," he said.
For the inaugural flight, 32 people took the two-hour trip from Kabul to Farah, including the provincial governor and the provincial chief of police. Hangama Sadid, a member of the provincial council was one of four people taking the flight to Kabul.
"For the future I hope for ticket prices to drop and for more airlines to fly into Farah. Normally I couldn't afford the price of the ticket, but I prefer to pay a little bit more in order to be safe," she said.
For now Ariana Afghan Airlines will fly into Farah twice a month. The cost of a ticket from Farah to Kabul will be 6,600 Afs, approximately $130. The planes hold 40 passengers. Priority will given to government officials and non-government Afghans can purchase tickets if there is still space remaining.
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2007 11:54 |
| Story ID: | 13407 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 739 |
| Downloads: | 706 |
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