sn26567 wrote:Why not start flying to Bujumbura again, instead of Kigali?
Could be an option. but also there it should be stable. Last time I was there in 2003 Bujumbura was on fire by the rebels. The mountains (where the rebels are) are very close to the city and the airport. Unless it has changed by then I would not take the risk. Maybe they can send a mission to investigate the situation now. There would be a similar market as for Kigali ...
I do not agree with some of the people on the forum that say that SNBA should act quickly and take other routes. Each new route to Africa is a very difficult decision to be taken and a lot of things has to be taken into account. If you take the right decision at the right time you can make a lot of money, in other cases you might lose a lot.
By the way: the other key players are acting in the same way. If they were sure about the Kigali market KL or other cariers would have flown there already for a long time (ibidem for Kinshasa).
I invite you to read this very interesting article in French that tells how the Silverback DC8 was acquired for just US$ 10.00 (secret deal with the US intelligence) and was used for traffic of weapons between Albania and Bosnia one one side, and Rwanda on the other. It explains why Rwanda is in a hurry to get it back and is using pressure on the Belgian gov't such as impoundinf an SN A330.
The articla also mentions the connection between Silverback and Memphis, another airline prohibited over Belgium.
In some (recent) reports, the United Nations people in charge of the Great Lakes region affairs reported that SilverBack was a very very sensitive case for the Kagame family. They presumably used their DC8 at a time with weapons smuggling purposes. Thoses facts haven't been confirmed by the CIA but never denied either.
Mr Kagame is still swiming in very dirty waters and is not as calm as he might appear believe me... Hence the very carefull evaluation of SN.
Thank you Andre for sharing this valuable info.
This press release being so well argued and documented would'nt it be worth an english translation ?
Unfortunately I have no time now (nor the best qualifications) for that exercise.. Maybe somebody here ?
My first reaction after reading this is of course a deep disgust ...who dares help bringing arms in a region already so vulnerable to blood and atrocities ?
Yes the french once did... and the americans now relieve them ... so cynical to seek exporting tribal conflicts that mask politico-financial appetites don't you think? But what is the Iraqi war about after all ?
My 2nd thought (sorry for this mild political digression) is that the grounded dc8 in ost may not have any moral impact at all.
But having an airlink between KGL and BRU may make the difference for an airline like sn.
Meanwhile I am sure a resumption of the BUJ stopover would rejoice lots of people.
Christophe
The story is not over yet. Here are some further comments by our friend Edwin Musoni, journalist at The New Times, of Kigali.
SN Brussels Wrangle Persists
Recent talks between a Belgian Civil Aviation Authority delegation with their Rwandan counterparts over an impounded SN Brussels airliner hit a snag, the director of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority Joshua Mbaraga told The New Times Saturday 4. "The talks we held with the Belgian delegation were not productive," Mbaraga said without delving into details of the meeting.
LX-LGX wrote:Most important quote from that article: "...with the Belgian authorities saying the developments could rock the relations between the two countries."
I am afraid it comes down to that, but am finding this a very incorrect signal: it seems to confirm that Belgian government has any direct control over / interest with SNBA. If this is the case, the Kigali government can't be blamed for harrassing the one in order to influence the other!
In Africa more than anywhere else, SNBA is really felt as THE flag carrier of Belgium.
If Rwanda had to act against UCB or any other private company to target the Belgian Govt, they would do it anyway. In those countries there is no distinction between a private owned or public owned company.
"The fares from Belgium to Rwanda are far different from those charged passengers going to Kenya from Belgium.We talked about it and agreed that the fares be reduced.We haven't known their side (SN Brussels) regarding the issue," Bizimana said.
This comes from the New Times article.
Just too funy to read this... Do they want to appear even more :censored: than they already are ??
And now why is it cheaper to fly to Australia than flying to Liberia ??
Did this :censored: know that cities like KGL, FIH, BZV, ROB are among the most expensive according to IATA published fares ??
[no personal attacks please - Please use decent language]
there is a spoke that says:
if you play with a dog you get its lice.
Suggestion: let Biman take over the flights of SNBA.
It would be than:
Dhaka-Dubai-Kigali-1 week fuel leaking on the tarmac -Brussels-2 weeks repair- New York- another week immigration issues- Brussels- 1 week cleaning of hydraulic oil - Kigali - 1 week fuel leaking on the tarmac - Dubai (buying gold) - Dhaka off the landing strip and in the ditch again.
To be repeated with all the trash bins that Biman still has untill it is silent.
Amen.
Geeeee, this is too much political....
It's got nothing to do with aircraft, technical problems, paperwork missing, bold tyre, leaking petrol????
And Rwanda was Belgium's ex-colony, am I right? Is this some sort of paypack for all years and the famous Silverback?????
Jean-Baptiste MBERABAHIZI is a fustrated member of the opposition living in exile in Belgium, you will never hear something good about Rwanda coming from him, so if you read his comments, keep that in mind.
Speaking of moral grounds: Rwanda was in war and used Silverback for his weapon transport - not a secret. But Belgium is not a country you normally associate with arms sales to the developing countries, although the port of Antwerp is believed to be an important staging post for arms shipments to countries beset with local conflicts. So is Belgium also selling weapons to Nepal and FN has opened a branch in Tanzania. This is mainly to avoid EU arms export regulations to conflict areas.
sn26567 wrote:
Why not start flying to Bujumbura again, instead of Kigali?
Just in case you're not aware what's going on in Burundi check this, hope you still remember what happened a few years ago when SN was landing:
Twenty4 wrote:Jean-Baptiste MBERABAHIZI is a fustrated member of the opposition living in exile in Belgium, you will never hear something good about Rwanda coming from him, so if you read his comments, keep that in mind.
Not only him, but also very reputable organisations like Amnesty International come up with the same story:
