Niger creates national carrier

The Nigerien government has decided to create a national airline, Niger Airways, and instructed the transport minister to finalize all procedures with a view of launching the company's activities.

The decision to create the airline was arrived at during a Cabinet meeting held in Niamey under the chairmanship of President Mahamadou Issoufou. A statement after the Cabinet meeting recalled that one of the missions of the transport ministry was to create a national airline which will fly to the interior parts of the country and to capitals of neighbouring countries.It was in 1966 that the first national carrier, Air Niger, was created in partnership with the French company, UTA. The company was flying to the interior parts of the country and to some of the sub-regional capitals.However, poor management of the company led to its collapse in 1985. The government and private Nigerien citizens will own 51 percent of the shares in the new company while the strategic partner, Turkish Airlines, will hold 49 percent of the company's shares. (Xinhua)

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