Ariana Afghan Airlines Inaugurates Frankfurt- Kabul Route; New air link vital for Afghanistan's Economic Development

FRANKFURT (Germany; ots/PROTEXT) 25. 09. 2002 - FrankfurtAirport's (FRA) extensive network of flight destinationscontinues to expand with today's inauguration of a new routebetween Frankfurt and Kabul - currently the only scheduled airservice between Europe and Afghanistan. Using an Airbus A300,Ariana Afghan Airlines will offer one flight per week fromFrankfurt to Kabul via Istanbul (Turkey) and Sharja (United ArabEmirates). Along with this Wednesday service, Ariana AfghanAirlines intends to add soon a second weekly flight on Sundays.

Vital for Afghanistan's economic development, the newconnection will be used primarily by politicians, militarypersonnel, media representatives, staff from internationalrelief agencies and businesspeople involved in redevelopmentprojects. Air transport links to the rest of the world areconsidered important for helping Afghanistan to rebuild and tocreate a new future of peace and prosperity.

At Frankfurt Airport, passengers of Ariana Afghan Airlinescheck in for their flight in Departures Hall C of Terminal 1.Fraport AG's Aviation Ground Handling and Logistics (BVD)strategic business division has been contracted by Ariana toprovide passenger and cargo handling services. For moreinformation, contact Ariana's main German office at: Telephone:+49.30.30889234; or its cargo office at Telephone+49.69.690.21064.

ots Original Text Service: Fraport AG Internet:http://www.presseportal.de

For More Information, Please Contact: Fraport AG FrankfurtAirport Services Worldwide Attn: Robert A. Payne - ManagerInternational Press 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Tel.: +49 69690 -78547 Fax: +49 69 690 -60548 E-Mail: r.payne@fraport.deInternet: www.fraport.com

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