SN Brussels Airlines suspends flights to Kinshasa

OO-VEX · Post by **OO-VEX** » 03 Jun 2004, 20:06

SN Brussels Airlines suspends flights to FIH - Kinshasa due to unrest in Congo.
Today's flight SN351 to Kinshasa FIH via Douala DLA landed in Douala and did not continue to FIH. The crew will return the aircraft and the Kinshasa bounded passangers after taken the dictated rest.
The SNBA staff in Kinshasa will stay in the hotel the next days, it is impossible to drive to the airport N'Djili.

OO-VEX

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Jun 2004, 20:10

Let's hope that the situation in Congo will improve in the coming days.

BTW have other airlines like AF also supended their flights to FIH ??

Greetz
Chris
8)

lumumba · Post by **lumumba** » 03 Jun 2004, 20:57

Hi everybody.
There is noA.F flight today.
Only 2 and 6.
Regards
Pat

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:01

lumumba wrote:Hi everybody.
There is noA.F flight today.
Only 2 and 6.
Regards
Pat

Thanks for the info Patrice

But do you know if other airlines have suspended their flights to FIH. Or was it only SN for the moment ?

Greetz
Chris

lumumba · Post by **lumumba** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:06

HI Avro.
Saa landed today in Kinshasa but whent back empty.
Becaus no passenger was on the airport.
The situation is calm now in Kin but poeple are very careful.
Regards
Pat

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:29

OK thanks for keeping us udated Pat

Chris

L-1011 · Post by **L-1011** » 04 Jun 2004, 10:33

On the news they always talk about problems in Bukavu and that region, but that is very far from Kinshasa. Why is the capital affected by this, and why are there no people at the airport

ciao,
TriStar

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 04 Jun 2004, 11:32

Hi Tristar,

You are right: if I remember well, Bukavu is situated in the Eastern part of Congo, while Kinshasa (and FIH of course) is located in the West.

I don't have the time at the moment to follow the situation, but as far as I heard/read, people in Republic of Congo are attacking UN properties (certainly those in Kinshasa) because the UN has (following them) not done enough to keep the dissidents out of Bukavu. So, while the real problem is situated in Bukavu, the whole country is protesting due to the 'weakness' of the UN.

The last thing I heard was that the leader of the rebels, who attacked Bukavu, has announced that he will ask his troops to quit the city.

This is quite a dangerous situation, and I hope that it will not lead to more instability in the region.

Frederic

dna · Post by **dna** » 04 Jun 2004, 14:17

I heard three people were killed during protests in Kinshasa, so the situation appears somewhat volatile. Hence the decision by SNBA. Flights BTW will continue to be suspended until next Tuesday.

Dave

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 04 Jun 2004, 15:52

Also the crew of SN was unable to reach the ariport. I think it's a wise decision of SN to cancel the flights (also tomorrow).

Edit: Until monday, all flights to Kinshasa are cancelled. The passengers can stay in Belgium for 15 days.

Established02 · Post by **Established02** » 04 Jun 2004, 20:18

How much is Hewa Bora affected?
On Saturday they normally have a pax flight.
Today and yesterday they were supposed to have a cargo flight (operated by MK Airlines).

Established02

Allnipponairways · Post by **Allnipponairways** » 05 Jun 2004, 00:07

Any news now how the situation is , when is the crew able to fly home again ..

greets

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 05 Jun 2004, 12:40

According to biac, the Hewa Bora flight of this evening isn't cancelled.

Chris

lumumba · Post by **lumumba** » 07 Jun 2004, 16:38

Hi everybody.
SNBA is fliyng tomorow back to Kimshasa and we are very happy not to be blockt .
Regards
Pat

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 07 Jun 2004, 16:48

Thanks for the update lumumba

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 07 Jun 2004, 18:22

Thanks for the update Patrice.

It's nice to see that SN will resume its flight to FIH tomorrow.

Chris

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 07 Jun 2004, 18:28

An additional flight to pick up stranded pax will indeed go to FIH/DLA tomorrow...

Glad to see that everything is back to normal.

Frederic

killerwhale65 · Post by **killerwhale65** » 07 Jun 2004, 18:40

just heard on the news that the tomorrow flight is only a one time flight to pick up stranded pax. They have not decided yet to fly again on a regular basis.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 07 Jun 2004, 18:50

killerwhale65 wrote:just heard on the news that the tomorrow flight is only a one time flight to pick up stranded pax. They have not decided yet to fly again on a regular basis.

Well, then let's hope that the situation will improve quickly

BTW what does SNBA do for pax that wanted to do BRU-FIH the coming days ?? Are they rebooking them on other airlines like Hewa Bora that tsill does the flights ?? Are they compensating those people in some way ??

Chris

liebensd · Post by **liebensd** » 07 Jun 2004, 22:40

There will be an extra flight
SNBA

So I understand that the problems are solved.

Greetz,

Dave