Kinda Airlines ( Syria), delays inaugural flight to May

Kinda Airlines has postponed its planned launch date from April 1 to May 1 citing paperwork issues. Airline vice commercial manager, Esmail Sharaf, told Reuters news agency that using an A320-200, JY-JAC (cn 29), and a B737-400, JY-JAQ (msn 27826), leased from Jordan Aviation, initial services will operate from Damascus to Latakia with ten other destinations in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, and even Lebanon and Jordan to come within the year.

Sharaf underscored the safety of operating out of Damascus despite the ongoing civil war which has now entered its third year. However, the imposition of international sanctions against Bashar al-Assad's regime has taken its toll.

"(Sanctions are) making it very, very difficult. Hopefully we have passed through all these difficulties," Sharaf said.

Backed by three local investors, Kinda Airlines is only the second start-up to challenge the Syrianair monopoly. Following the liberalization of the Syrian air industry in 2008, Syrian Pearl Airlines was founded as the country's second national carrier only to go bust three months later when lessor OrionAir pulled out due to US sanctions.
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