"first SCHEDULED international flight", you mean. :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leo Futia" <LFutia@aol.com> To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 16:58 Subject: Afghan Ariana Airline Makes First International Flight Since 1999 > Afghanistan's national airline Ariana Afghan Airlines has made its first > international flight in nearly two-and-a-half years. > > The carrier's only Boeing 727 took off from Kabul for New Delhi after a > worker climbed a mobile stairway and used a plastic jug to clean the > windshield. > > International flights by Ariana were halted in October 1999 following the > imposition of anti-Taliban sanctions by the United Nations. > > After the Soviet invasion in 1979, Ariana's operations to Western countries > were effectively cancelled, and travel to Afghanistan dried up almost > completely during the 1992-6 civil war. > > As Afghanistan grew increasingly isolated under Taliban rule, Ariana flew to > only a few international destinations: Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, > Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. > > The UN sanctions were lifted on January 13 by the Security Council. > > Pilots have told of the airline's planes being used by the Taliban to ferry > weapons and leaders of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's terror network. > > Today's flight carried a crew of 12 plus 13 passengers, including Afghanistan > tourism minister and the airline's president. > > Kabul's international airport, badly damaged during the US bombing campaign, > reopened last week to international humanitarian and military flights, > although much damage remains to be repaired. > > The plane landed safely in New Delhi, where passengers and crew were greeted > with garlands of marigolds. >