So many discomforts have been associated with traveling overseas via the Freetown International Airport at Lungi, but with the arrival of the Elysian airlines this has been resolved as the aircraft intends taking off from the Hastings airfield.
On Tuesday the aircraft made its maiden flight to Hastings. The crew made a detailed study as to the state of the airfield; whether it would be possible for the aircraft to be taking from that airfield.
In an interview with the Elysian captain, Kamron Amiri before making his first flight to the Hastings airfield, he said, “it is possible to use that airfield [Hastings], according to the information I got, we can use it,” he stressed.
“What we are going to do, we are going to go there and see if we can take 30 passengers, because as you know the more passengers you take the more feasible for the operator,” said the decade long experienced Iranian flight captain.
He emphasized that, “we are going to Hastings to see if we can take full load out of there. If that’s possible, it’s better for the operator…”
Questioned about security of the aircraft at the Hastings airfield, the captain explained that that had been taken into consideration. “We have been talking about it with the operations director and he said eventually he is going to set security on that side as well for us, so if we are to base on that side [Hastings] then definitely there is going to be security.”
At the Hastings Airfield, The Gambian Civil Aviation Authority representative (GCAA), Peterson-Garbidon, said the flight was in accordance with Gambian standards and surely could operate in The Gambia.
The operations director, Dr Ojetunde who is representing the British interest, said the airlines’ maiden flight schedule was going to be in countries that fell within the Mano River Union (MRU) basin.
By Ophaniel Gooding
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