The flag carrier of Somalia – inactive since the peak of that country’s civil war about 35 years ago – is set to resume regular scheduled service next month.
Somalia’s government announced the upcoming return of Somali Air on Sunday, according to Bloomberg. Officials have been attempting to revive the defunct airline for over a decade, but it was only in 2025 that the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation committed to bringing back the brand. A new chief executive officer was named around the same time.
It was not immediately clear which destinations Somali Air will serve. It will more than likely operate from Mogadishu International Airport.
So far, Somali Air has ordered two Airbus A320s.
Formed in the 1960s, Somali Air once connected Somalia to destinations such as Frankfurt, Cairo, the Seychelles, and Dubai. It initially used the Douglas D-3, then the Boeing 707 and 720 and Airbus A310, along with several types of smaller turboprop aircraft.
The carrier suspended operations in 1991 when the government of Siad Barre was violently overthrown. The conflict continues to this day, with various armed groups asserting control over different regions of Somalia. However, the country has made some progress toward stability, and the central government is gradually rebuilding its authority.
Smaller, private airlines have filled the void left behind by Somali Air, but most operate regionally within Somalia, and there are relatively few avenues for international travel by air.
