Hargeisa, 29 June 2009 (Somalilandcurrent)— Ethiopian Airlines has officially delegated Noble Travel Agency to carry out their flight bookings in Somaliland. The agency will have exclusive access to Ethiopian Airlines 1.95 million passenger database and cliets would be able to make bookings with them as well as Ethiopian Airlines affiliated carriers.
Since the suicide attacks in Somaliland in October last year, the Ethiopian Airline’s office was closed and its flights has been suspended due to security concerns. A number of times, there were reports suggesting that the carrier might start resuming its flights via Berbera airport – however, it was not to be.
Speaking to Somalilandpress, the manager of Noble Travel Agency, Mr Abdiqafar Mohamoud Isse said the agency was established in 2006 and has been growing ever since. After the Ethiopian airlines suspended its operations in Somaliland, they have been seeking other alternatives in order to continue their business in the country.
In early March of this year, the Ethiopian carrier invited three traveling agencies from Somaliland to it’s head office in Addis Ababa for contracting bid. Noble Travel Agency was selected as the official winner on the 27th of April – the other two bidders were Olympic Travel Agency and Hargeisa National Travel & Tourism Agency (HNTTA). Mr Abdiqafar, said his agency was selected because of their extensive experience in the field and connections with other carriers such as Xoriyo, Zuhura, Cosob and Daallo airlines.
Ethiopian Airlines has not officially annouced when it will resume it’s flights to Somaliland cities but Addis-Hargeisa travelers can make bookings with Noble Travel Agency, they will be able to connect them with any of the following carriers Air Ethiopia, Xorriyo, Zuhura and Daallo Airlines. Noble Travel plans to lauch their online services soon.
the next target for Somaliland should be kenyan airways
Well we need Somaliland companies connecting with successful companies from our neighbouring states whether its Ethiopia, Kenya or Djibouti. Well done, Noble and congratulations, Ethiopia Airlines is properly the most successful airliner in Africa, well managed.
They disappointed me when they suspended their flights to Hargeisa, we urge the airliner to reconsider their decisions and give Somalilanders a state of the art carrier until the other carriers follow their suit.
We need competitions and a model for the others to follow otherwise we will continue to use Daallo and its old Russian jets though they are upgrading to luxury carriers now its mainly because they know they losing competition.
Resume the flights…
This is good step, but frankly speaking ethiopia will not benefit the public, and even expensive in many occasions compare to international fare.. We shall not forget the old enemity between Somalis and Ethiopia… Or do you think that is over!!!
It is over mate. Let's not base our current lives on something happened 200 years ago.
We need to start a news life based on our interest ,, both of us.
Congratulations Mr. Abdul Qafar, job well done brother, i am sure that you will connect Emirates and Etihad Airways to Hargeisa in the near future.
All nations have moved on what was between them over 50,100, 200 years ago. Somaliland has no problem with Ethiopia and Somalia is their fellow brothers, but not all Ethiopians are cool with Somaliland, Ethiopian groups such as the Oromo would rather see Greater Somalia to liberate them from the "habesha" mainly the Tigreys and Amhara who have always dominated Ethiopia.
i am happy for the connection and the improvements they are making in somaliland, at the end of the day, they are my people…..and i hope nothing but the best, and also there search for potential business and hard work puts us {in puntland} more pressure to go forward aswell. competition is good for business…
about ethiopia, i honestly wished we as somalis {somaliland and puntland} could break away from there connection with somalis….tigray and amxaaro have nothing but hatred for somalis…………………………………………….
a honest greater somalia is good for our people and all other muslims in the horn of africa, and ethiopia by supporting puntland and somaliland shows there fear for greater somalia, …………………………. i dont know about u people but i dont want to become a puppet regime for ethiopia, ……. and i cant seem to enjoy the prosperity of puntland while south is burning, kenya is misusing our people there , and the ethiopians well, i dont have to tell u about it……….but again congrats to your prosperity
Congratulations boys and Somaliland as whole, we can't forever be stuck in 1500s when Somalis and the people of Ethiopia had beef, we have to move ahead and catch up to the rest of the world.
Somalia has a problem, they cant even unit themselves and they want to talk about union, they want to talk about forgiveness but they cant even forgive each others – they think they are holy warriors of Islam but they bomb mosques, kill women and blow their own bodies like its balloons. They are disgrace to Somalis, Muslims and Africans.
Somaliland chooses to differ and moves ahead with whoever is ready to work with them on equal bases and on mutual and bilateral levels.
…and you call Somaliland (NW region)a “nation” who can do business with Ethiopia on equal terms!. What a farce. You certainly are in for a big disappointment.
How many more years you need to finally understand that, after all, you have been chasing a mirage.
Abdi
Somaliland is nation wether you likr it or not and we do business with the devil if it suits us.
sonofsnm,
I, honestly, don’t care who and how you do business. And what I like or dislike is not important here.
What I commented and thought important was one’s definition of nationhood, which unlike the wild desires of some, has to have the known ingredients and be within the internationally accepted norms. Otherwise, every few thousands of people who reside in few towns and villages would claim to constitute a nation which of course would render the whole idea meaningless.
So instead of beating the around bush, why didn’t you address the nature and qualification of your nationhood.
That would be a more useful discussion.
Good day, thankful i ran across your web site. It solved the problem to learn the topic a bit improved.
Woooooooooow Noble Travel Agency Congratulation but where is the gender balance because the team are all men where are the women's.
hi my name is Sagar naik I am 25 year old bms graduate from Mumbai university worked for while with airlines called spicejet in india wish to start an airlines in Somaliland I ready with concept and looking to for partners to finance and work with there are airlines in india which among one called mdlr is now defunct and another airlines called jagson which has BAe 146 total there are two of this can be leased and operated in hargeisa anyone interested can contact me at sagarnike051087@gmail.com
hi my name is Sagar naik I am 25 year old bms graduate from Mumbai university worked for while with airlines called spicejet in india wish to start an airlines in Somaliland I am ready with concept and looking to for partners to finance and work with there are airlines in india which among one called mdlr is now defunct and another airlines called jagson which has BAe 146 total there are two of this can be leased and operated in hargeisa anyone interested can contact me at sagarnike051087@gmail.com