RIYADH, 18 September 2003 — In a move to boost Saudi-Afghan relations, Afghanistan’s state-run airline, Ariana, has resumed regular flights from Kabul to Jeddah, said Abdul Razzak Sirat and Fazal Omar, officials at the Embassy of Afghanistan, said yesterday.
The first flight to Kabul is scheduled to depart today from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah. Syed Habibur Rahman, an Ariana official, said: “We will operate only two flights a week for the time being”.
Ariana expects growing passenger loads on flights from Jeddah to Kabul. Embassy officials said that there were more than 53,000 Afghans currently living in Saudi Arabia.
Regular flights from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia were halted in 1980 but resumed in 1996 when the Taleban took Kabul.
According to Fida Mohammad Fedai, Ariana’s deputy director, the restoration of air links between the Kingdom and Afghanistan will increase passenger traffic as well as commercial ties between the two countries.
