Emirates to Start Operations in Afghanistan Within 4 Months

Janan Mosazai, spokesman of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), at a press conference held in Kabul on Sunday announced that Emirates Airline planes to launch flights between Dubai and Afghanistan within four months.

The move by Emirates, along with the recent annoucement made by car manufacturer Chevrolet about investing in the Afghan automobile industry, would signal increased confidence amongst international companies in the potential for successful business ventures in Afghanistan.

"If the company was not sure about the security situation, they would not start services in Afghanistan," Mr. Mosazai said.

Emirates is an airline company with its headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Daoud Ali Najafi, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation also welcomed the company's decision to begin commercial flights in Afghanistan.

"After negotiations the company decided that it will start its services in Afghanistan. Emirates has sent a schedule and assured that it will start operating by December," said Mr. Najafi.

However, the local airline companies have raised objections over allowing entry to Emirates. They said that the Afghan aviation market cannot accommodate foreign airline companies like Emirates. 

Although the impact Emirates' entry into Afghan's the commercial aviation market will have on the smaller Afghan airlines is uncertain, what is sure is that the move will increase the number of flights coming in an out of Afghanistan. It may also encourage other international airlines to consider expanding their operations to the country.

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