Barran Press
The board of directors of Yemenia Airways held a meeting in Cairo on Friday, July 5th, 2024, just hours after an agreement was reached for the release of the airline's planes seized by the Houthis. The company also announced that two flights would be operated to Sana'a, transporting stranded pilgrims from Jeddah to the Yemeni capital.
According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the board emphasized that Yemenia Airways is a service-oriented company committed to providing services to all Yemenis across the country.
The board explained that the Houthis' seizure of four Yemenia planes had disrupted the airline's operations, including Hajj pilgrimage flights between the holy lands and Yemen, as well as the Sana'a-Amman route, since July 1st.
To ensure the continuation of services to Yemeni citizens and meet its operational commitments, the board demanded the release of the seized planes and the unfreezing of the company's assets held in Sana'a banks.
The board commended the company's leadership for its commitment to providing quality services to customers, despite operating with only three planes due to the Houthi seizure.
The meeting discussed the airline's financial and operational performance during the first quarter of 2024, as well as its 2023 financial statements. The board also reviewed the latest developments in joint efforts between Yemenia and Sa'ida Airlines in the field of air transport.
The board was briefed on the results of negotiations between Yemenia, represented by its chairman and general manager, and Airbus, regarding restructuring the purchase agreement for Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft. The board clarified Yemenia's position based on recommendations from the company's technical management regarding the selection of suitable aircraft models to enhance the airline's services.
Saba did not mention whether the meeting addressed reports of the Houthis agreeing to release the seized planes in exchange for resuming the Sana'a-Amman route.
On Thursday, July 4th, local media outlets reported that an Omani mediation had resulted in an agreement for the release of the seized planes in Sana'a in exchange for the resumption of the Sana'a-Amman route.
Later, the Ministry of Awqaf and Guidance in the internationally recognized Yemeni government confirmed these reports, informing Hajj agencies that Yemenia would resume transporting stranded pilgrims from Jeddah to Sana'a on two flights.
The first flight is scheduled to depart on Friday, July 5th, at 4:30 PM, and the second flight on Saturday, July 6th, at 8:30 AM.
On June 26th, 2024, Yemenia Airways apologized to Hajj pilgrims for its inability to transport them to Sana'a due to the Houthis' seizure of four of its planes.
The company stated in a statement that the Houthis, internationally designated as a terrorist group, had seized four of its planes at Sana'a International Airport. This act was considered a threat to the safety of air navigation in the country and hindered the operation of flights to and from Yemen.
On June 28th, the Presidential Leadership Council formed a government committee headed by Prime Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak to address the crisis of the Houthis' seizure of Yemenia planes.
According to Saba, the committee's mission includes restricting the Houthis' use of the seized planes until further notice, including the release of a plane seized two months ago and the lifting of the ban on the company's frozen assets, exceeding $100 million.