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| Bruce Dickinson: The rock star helping an African airline fly | Bruce Dickinson: The rock star helping an African airline fly |
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| For the world's biggest rock bands the small East African nation of Djibouti doesn't usually appear on their itineraries. | For the world's biggest rock bands the small East African nation of Djibouti doesn't usually appear on their itineraries. |
| Nestled between Somalia and Eritrea at the entrance to the Red Sea, the hot and arid country seldom features on lists of global tour dates. | Nestled between Somalia and Eritrea at the entrance to the Red Sea, the hot and arid country seldom features on lists of global tour dates. |
| Yet there is one multimillionaire rock star who recently flew into town - Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of heavy metal elder statesmen Iron Maiden. | Yet there is one multimillionaire rock star who recently flew into town - Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of heavy metal elder statesmen Iron Maiden. |
| Instead of performing a concert the 56-year-old was in Djibouti because of his other job - as owner of an airline business. | Instead of performing a concert the 56-year-old was in Djibouti because of his other job - as owner of an airline business. |
| A qualified pilot, Mr Dickinson has spent the past 16 years juggling his commitments on stage and in the recording studio, with a second career flying commercial planes; in 2012 he set up a company called Cardiff Aviation. | A qualified pilot, Mr Dickinson has spent the past 16 years juggling his commitments on stage and in the recording studio, with a second career flying commercial planes; in 2012 he set up a company called Cardiff Aviation. |
| Based in south Wales, the business provides maintenance, training and operational support to a host of airlines. | Based in south Wales, the business provides maintenance, training and operational support to a host of airlines. |
| The visit to Djibouti saw Mr Dickinson sign an agreement with the country's government to help re-launch the nation's former flag carrier - Air Djibouti. | The visit to Djibouti saw Mr Dickinson sign an agreement with the country's government to help re-launch the nation's former flag carrier - Air Djibouti. |
| The airline went into liquidation back in 2002 after years of mismanagement and overstaffing. | The airline went into liquidation back in 2002 after years of mismanagement and overstaffing. |
| Air Djibouti is now set to take to the skies again later this year, with Cardiff Aviation sourcing the aircraft and helping to run the operation. | Air Djibouti is now set to take to the skies again later this year, with Cardiff Aviation sourcing the aircraft and helping to run the operation. |
| Mr Dickinson says he hopes that the re-launched carrier will help increase awareness of the African nation. | Mr Dickinson says he hopes that the re-launched carrier will help increase awareness of the African nation. |
| "Djibouti is an amazing country, but many people do not know about it," he says. | "Djibouti is an amazing country, but many people do not know about it," he says. |
| "A national airline has an ambassadorial role wherever it flies from." | "A national airline has an ambassadorial role wherever it flies from." |
| 'Government criticism' | 'Government criticism' |
| The relaunch of Air Djibouti comes as the country's economy is continuing to enjoy significant investment from China. | The relaunch of Air Djibouti comes as the country's economy is continuing to enjoy significant investment from China. |
| Chinese firms are spending $12bn (£7.6bn) to build no less than six new ports in the country, a railway line to land-locked neighbour Ethiopia, and two new airports. The Chinese government is also said to be planning to build a military base in Djibouti. | Chinese firms are spending $12bn (£7.6bn) to build no less than six new ports in the country, a railway line to land-locked neighbour Ethiopia, and two new airports. The Chinese government is also said to be planning to build a military base in Djibouti. |
| A former French colony, the country is already also home to large French and US military facilities. | A former French colony, the country is already also home to large French and US military facilities. |
| The overseas interest in Djibouti is thanks in no small part to its strategic location in the Horn of Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lines. | The overseas interest in Djibouti is thanks in no small part to its strategic location in the Horn of Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lines. |
| The development of new airports is obviously particularly good news for Air Djibouti, especially because commercial flights in and out of the country currently have to use a cramped airport shared with the US military. | The development of new airports is obviously particularly good news for Air Djibouti, especially because commercial flights in and out of the country currently have to use a cramped airport shared with the US military. |
| Iron Maiden facts | Iron Maiden facts |
| It is also hoped that Air Djibouti will benefit from wider efforts by the government to position the country, which has a population of only 810,000, as a low tax, international trade centre to rival Dubai. | It is also hoped that Air Djibouti will benefit from wider efforts by the government to position the country, which has a population of only 810,000, as a low tax, international trade centre to rival Dubai. |
| Mr Dickinson, whose trip to Djibouti was part of a trade visit organised by the British Embassy in Ethiopia, says: "The aviation sector is crucial [for Djibouti], it is like imagining Dubai without Emirates. So if they want Djibouti to become an international trade hub it needs a [thriving] national airline." | |
| The Djibouti government is however, not without its critics. | The Djibouti government is however, not without its critics. |
| Despite a stable political system, and holding elections, politics has long been dominated by the ruling People's Rally for Progress party of President Ismael Omar Guelleh. | Despite a stable political system, and holding elections, politics has long been dominated by the ruling People's Rally for Progress party of President Ismael Omar Guelleh. |
| This has led to opposition parties both boycotting some elections and questioning the results of other polls. | This has led to opposition parties both boycotting some elections and questioning the results of other polls. |
| The government's critics have also criticised its economic plans. | The government's critics have also criticised its economic plans. |
| One Djiboutian journalist, who asked not to be named, says: "The government only cares about how to collect the country's wealth. | One Djiboutian journalist, who asked not to be named, says: "The government only cares about how to collect the country's wealth. |
| "They do not care about freedom of expression, human rights, justice and equal opportunities of people." | "They do not care about freedom of expression, human rights, justice and equal opportunities of people." |
| Mohamed Ali Hassan, the Djibouti Foreign Ministry's Secretary General, counters that criticism of the government is misplaced. | Mohamed Ali Hassan, the Djibouti Foreign Ministry's Secretary General, counters that criticism of the government is misplaced. |
| "The Western community expects Djibouti to be the same as Europe, but that is not possible," he says. | "The Western community expects Djibouti to be the same as Europe, but that is not possible," he says. |
| "We are willing to listen to criticism, although we don't hear any proposals." | "We are willing to listen to criticism, although we don't hear any proposals." |
| In specific regards to the Chinese investment, he adds: "We hear criticism of the Chinese, but they are doing business everywhere, and not just with us." | In specific regards to the Chinese investment, he adds: "We hear criticism of the Chinese, but they are doing business everywhere, and not just with us." |
| Infant industry | Infant industry |
| At the relaunched Air Djibouti, its senior director of strategic planning, Dawit Gebre-ab, says the carrier wants to compete with the likes of Turkish Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways, who he says currently dominate international flights to and from the country. | At the relaunched Air Djibouti, its senior director of strategic planning, Dawit Gebre-ab, says the carrier wants to compete with the likes of Turkish Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways, who he says currently dominate international flights to and from the country. |
| "Turkish Airlines is already flying here every day from Istanbul," he says. "That should be our market, they are our passengers." | "Turkish Airlines is already flying here every day from Istanbul," he says. "That should be our market, they are our passengers." |
| Djibouti facts | Djibouti facts |
| Mr Gebre-ab adds that Air Djibouti also plans to provider cheap direct flights to cities such as Paris and London, and to destinations in Africa. | Mr Gebre-ab adds that Air Djibouti also plans to provider cheap direct flights to cities such as Paris and London, and to destinations in Africa. |
| "African aviation is still in its infancy," adds Mr Gebre-ab. "So there is big room for growth. | "African aviation is still in its infancy," adds Mr Gebre-ab. "So there is big room for growth. |
| "We want to be as big as other African airlines, such as Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways." | "We want to be as big as other African airlines, such as Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways." |
| Air Djibouti also aims to start services to Dubai and Delhi. | Air Djibouti also aims to start services to Dubai and Delhi. |
| Mr Dickinson says: "Our aim is to let Air Djibouti represent the country in the best way possible." | Mr Dickinson says: "Our aim is to let Air Djibouti represent the country in the best way possible." |