In a significant step towards reviving national aviation, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Alhaji Fanday Turay, officially launched the country’s new airline, Air Sierra Leone, on Saturday.
The airline’s inaugural flight is scheduled for December 2, departing from London’s Gatwick Airport on a six-hour journey to Freetown International Airport.
The government has confirmed that the airline will initially operate under a UK Air Operating Certificate (AOC) while working to obtain a Sierra Leonean AOC.
The news of the launch has sparked mixed reactions across Sierra Leone. While many citizens are excited about the return of a national carrier following the collapse of Fly Salone, some are cautious, given that Air Sierra Leone will be privately operated.
This development follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday between the government and Nigeria-based Xejet Aviation Limited. Under the agreement, Xejet will manage both regional and international flights from Freetown, with the goal of establishing a fully operational national carrier.
Air Sierra Leone will begin operations with a fleet of three aircraft: a 50-seat Embraer and two Boeing 737s with seating capacities of 189 and 149 passengers, respectively.
The country’s history with national airlines dates back to 1958 when Sierra Leone Airways was established. However, previous efforts to sustain a national carrier have faltered, most recently with Fly Salone, which ceased operations in March 2016.
