Gambia Bird suspension of service to Sierra Leone 13 October 2014 Further to our statement of 01 October, announcing resumption of direct service by Gambia Bird Airlines between London and Freetown from 17 October 2014, we regret to announce that the airline have been forced to suspend service on this route until further notice. We would like to clarify that the airline had received the necessary permits and permissions to operate on the route again from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and had fully intended to restart service to Sierra Leone as of the above date. However, it would seem a shift in policy by the UK Government was taken to withdraw these permissions, barely a week before service was to resume. We consider the above decision disappointing. Our view was that the need for a direct commercial service was clear from several standpoints. It would provide far easier, cost-effective access for humanitarian assistance to Sierra Leone in the form of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) volunteers, medical professionals and supplies to combat the Ebola epidemic that the country is currently suffering. It would allow UK based businesses and workers who are still trying to access the country and contribute to boosting its badly damaged economy a reliable means of doing so. Gambia Bird had put in place extremely stringent health and safety procedures to protect both passengers and crew, combined with thorough checks of passengers at Lungi International Airport prior to exiting Sierra Leone. Public Health England was consulted throughout the planning process and was satisfied that measures being taken were adequately robust. It has also been repeatedly stated that Ebola could be dealt with quickly and efficiently in the UK due to an excellent health system – a luxury not enjoyed by afflicted Sierra Leoneans – along with a set of rigorous procedures to identify, treat and contain any cases. Much has been published and broadcast in recent days regarding the implementation of screening incoming passengers at UK airports, who are flying in from affected regions. The banning of a direct service, where tracking and screening of passengers is relatively easy, while continuing to allow passengers connecting with a variety of airlines through a variety of cities, including Brussels and Casablanca, makes little sense. Ultimately this decision punishes Sierra Leone and West Africa in general. As we have proudly served the Sierra Leonean community in the UK for so many years, it saddens us that they have been let down in this way.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 21:26:02 +0000
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