How to Book Travel on Marsland Aviation

Marsland Aviation is a passenger line that serves 8 cities within the Sudan, and hopes to add destinations in Kenya and Uganda soon. They fly primarily to the west and and south. They hope to take advantage of the long-awaited Sudanese peace accord to expand their fleet and their services. Follow these steps to book a flight with Marsland Aviation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Passport and Sudanese visa
• Valid credit card

Book a Flight on Marsland Aviation

1. Call the Marsland Aviation reservation number 011 ([phone], or 011 ([phone] to book your flight. Or, use a travel agent familiar with Sudanese customs and business dealings to make the best arrangements possible.
2. Book reservations on the Marsland Aviation Web site (see Resources below). You'll need to register to do this.
3. Hook up with a local group traveling to the Sudan for business, if you're not already a part of one. There is strength and safety in numbers.
4. Apply for a letter of sponsorship from a government, business or humanitarian organization within the Sudan. This is necessary to acquire a visa. Find help for this task from the United Nations Web site, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with authorization to work in the Sudan or through your business or mission group.

Tips & Warnings

• When checking the flight schedule for a particular date, keep in mind that the Sudanese write the date in the British and European fashion: day/month/year. For example, March 21, 2007 would be written 21/3/07.
• To book reservations on the Marsland Web site, you must register. Most U.S. Web browsers will block this process for security reasons.
• If you bring a camera, you may be required to obtain a permit to take pictures. Even if you have a permit, refrain from photographing government buildings, public transportation terminals and other politically sensitive subjects.
• One of Marsland's destinations is El Ginena on the border between Sudan and Chad. Political tensions are strong between the Sudan and its neighbors and trips to border towns could put the traveler in danger.
• Remember that, compared to western companies, the schedule of Sudanese airlines is limited. Marsland flies about 4 times a week to each of their destinations and hopes to increase to 5 or 6 once hostilities from the civil war cool down.
• Travel in the Sudan is not advisable at this time. Read the travel advisory from the U.S. State Department (see Resources below).