KHOST CITY - For the first time, an Afghan Ariana Airlines flight from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, landed at the airport in southeastern Khost province on Monday.
The flight from the UAE comes at a time when, according to some sources, the airport is not yet fully ready for international flights, but the passengers were happy to land in Khost instead of Kabul province.
The governor’s spokesman TalibMangal, told Pajhwok Afghan News there were 134 passengers on board, 88 from Khost and the rest from Paktia, Paktika and Logar provinces.
Naseeb Afghan, one of the passengers, said he was happy to land at Khost airport instead of Kabul.
He hoped that Khost would have an airport that would facilitate people’s travel abroad, especially those living in the Gulf state.
He also hoped that the responsible officials would play a constructive role in provision of facilities for the convenience of passengers.
Some residents of the province insisted that regular flights should be maintained.
FaridullahQurban, a civil society activist said, that he hoped the flight would not be temporary and would continue, as it would make the journey to Khost more comfortable.
He said the launch of flights from the United Arab Emirates to Khost airport was a good step and such flights would continue on permanent basis.
Governor Mohammad Katawazi said that Khost was the third largest airport in the country after Kabul and Kandahar.
He acknowledged some shortcomings and problems at the airport but said they would be resolved in the near future.
“Our airport is ahead of all other provinces, both technically, structurally and in terms of the aviation personnel they bring with them,” he said.
“I would like to inform the people of Khost that the Civil Aviation Adviser has told me that several international airlines are ready to fly to Khost”, he added.
MohammadullahFaizi, an advisor to the Civil Aviation Authority of Afghanistan, said,  that all necessary supplies had been completed at the Khost airport and it would be officially opened for domestic and international flights in the near future.
These flights will take into account the number of passengers in Khost, depending on the need and these flights will continue, he said.
The flight from the United Arab Emirates to Khost airport follows a Pajhwok report on June 3 that some former and current government officials had reported that Khost airport was in a state of disarray.
It is being reopened as an international airport that does not meet the required standards and arrangements have been made to temporarily move some equipment from Kabul for its opening. (Pajhwok)