Al Rayyan International Airport in Al Mukalla, the capital of Yemen’s Hadramaut Governorate, has resumed international flights today, Sunday, via Yemenia Airways. This follows a period of suspension due to recent events and the subsequent regaining of control by government forces after the withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council forces earlier this month.
According to the official Yemeni News Agency (SABA), a member of the Presidential Council and Governor of Hadramaut, Salem Al-Khanbashi, inaugurated the first international flights to and from Al Rayyan International Airport.
Al-Khanbashi emphasized that the resumption of international flights will directly contribute to alleviating the suffering of citizens and facilitating their travel. In a filmed statement distributed by the authorities’ media office, he noted that the airport today witnessed a flight to Cairo Airport, with flights to other destinations to follow.
Captain Saleh bin Nuhaid, Head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Meteorology, highlighted the importance of Al Rayyan International Airport for its humanitarian, service, and economic roles, given its vital location and service to a wide segment of the population. He indicated that the Authority will work in the coming period to expand the airport’s activities, which are currently limited to Cairo and Jeddah, to other capitals.
Al Rayyan International Airport is the third largest airport in Yemen after Sana’a and Aden airports.
Last week, Yemenia Airways resumed its operations through Seiyun International Airport in Hadramaut Governorate, after a weeks-long suspension due to recent security developments, in conjunction with other flights from Al Ghaydah International Airport in Al Mahrah Governorate.
Yemenia also announced last week the operation of commercial flights starting from January 7 for the first time between the Yemeni island of Socotra and the Saudi city of Jeddah.
The Southern Transitional Council’s control of Hadramaut in early December marked a significant shift in the country, changing the balance of power after Yemeni government forces, with the support of the Saudi-led coalition, were able to regain control of this strategic governorate and other governorates.
