Mogadishu(SD)-Officials of the Civil Aviation Authority have denied the claim that Kismayo Airport has been banned from all flights to Kismayo until December 26.

Officials with Somali Civil Aviation Authority said the information was fake and did not know the source, and the airline could fly to Kismayo, given they notify the agency 24 prior to their flight to Kismayo.

The Civil Aviation Authority added that it had given licensed to a number of airlines that met the criteria.

The ban had been a sore political issue for the past couple of days for the Federal government of Somalia.

Opposition parties including former Presidents of Somalia have condemned the move to restrict flights to Kismayo.