Gabon Launches New National Airline

On Aug. 31, 2024, Gabon’s newly established national airline, Fly Gabon, officially launched operations with its inaugural flight from Libreville to Port-Gentil. The flight was carried out using the airline’s ATR 72-600 aircraft, registered as TR-LJT, which departed from Libreville at 10:15 a.m. and touched down in Port-Gentil, Gabon’s second-largest city and a vital industrial hub, at 10:40 a.m. according to Flightradar24.

Nyl Charles Moret-Mba, Managing Director of Fly Gabon, expressed his pride in reaching this significant milestone. He stated, “It is a privilege to address you this morning. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the President and Head of State for entrusting our team with this vital project for Gabon.”

Moret-Mba emphasized the solid foundation laid by the Head of State through the establishment of a national airline. He noted that Fly Gabon, which employs 320 Gabonese staff, is a continuation of the legacy of Afrijet—a private airline that has served Central Africa for nearly two decades. The Gabonese Republic, through Fly Gabon Holding, has acquired a 56% stake in Afrijet, which will soon be rebranded as Fly Gabon.

“This transition begins today, with our first aircraft flying under the Gabonese flag. We will soon be expanding our fleet with an Airbus A320 for medium-haul routes,” Moret-Mba added.

Fly Gabon is a subsidiary of Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH), a holding company established on Feb. 7, 2024, with a mandate to invest in Gabonese and international aviation companies. The airline received its second ATR 72-600 on July 12, 2024, from Toulouse, France. The aircraft, registered as TR-LJU, was previously operated by the Burkinabe start-up Liz Aviation and before that by Loganair. This aircraft joined Fly Gabon’s first ATR72-600, registered as TR-LJT, which arrived on June 16.

Fly Gabon has ambitious plans to operate 90% of Gabon’s domestic routes by the end of 2024, with a view toward international expansion. The airline intends to launch its first international route to Johannesburg, South Africa, establishing a key air corridor for trade and industry. To support this expansion, Fly Gabon is in discussions with Airbus and leasing companies to acquire an Airbus A320.

Following the overthrow of President Ali Bongo on Aug. 30, 2023, Brigadier General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema delivered his first address to the nation on Dec. 31, 2023. In this speech, the president of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) outlined his strategy for the country’s development, with a focus on civil aviation. The establishment of a national carrier was among his top priorities.

This led to the creation of a new semi-public airline, Fly Gabon. The Gabonese government acquired a 56% stake in Afrijet, the leading private Gabonese carrier and a dynamic airline in the CEMAC region. Contrary to the initial plan of creating Fly Gabon from scratch, the new national carrier will be built on the solid foundation of Afrijet, which has been a prominent player in Gabon’s aviation industry since its inception in 2005.

In line with this vision, Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH), the parent company of Fly Gabon, successfully acquired a majority stake in Afrijet on March 12, 2024, during a ceremony at the presidential palace attended by the transitional president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

As part of its long-term strategy, Fly Gabon aims to provide air services to all provinces in Gabon as the country’s airports undergo modernization. Its partner, Afrijet, already operates regional flights to countries including Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé, and Benin. Afrijet’s fleet includes three ATR 72-600s, one ATR 42-500, two ATR 72-500s, and a leased CRJ-900.

It is worth noting that Afrijet became the leading airline in the CEMAC region in 2019. Initially a charter service provider, the company expanded its network to offer regular regional air transport services starting in October 2016. Afrijet has been IOSA certified since February 2020 and employs 320 staff across Gabon, Congo, the DRC, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon.

The new Head of State has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Ali Bongo, who had previously promised to establish a national airline but did not see it through. As this project comes to fruition, Fly Gabon will fill the void left by the dissolution of Air Gabon in 2005.

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Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

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