Gabon’s National Airline Fly Gabon Begins Operations, Boosting Aviation Growth

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Gabon marked a significant advancement in its aviation sector with the official launch of Fly Gabon on August 31, 2024. The inaugural flight, utilizing an ATR 72-600 aircraft, embarked from Libreville at 10:15 a.m. and landed in Port-Gentil—Gabon’s key industrial city—at 10:40 a.m., as tracked by Flightradar24.

Nyl Charles Moret-Mba, Managing Director of Fly Gabon, expressed profound pride in this achievement, thanking the President and Head of State for the trust placed in their team to spearhead this pivotal project. Moret-Mba highlighted the establishment of the national airline as a continuation of the legacy of Afrijet, a private carrier that has significantly impacted Central Africa’s aviation for nearly two decades. With 320 Gabonese staff, Fly Gabon is set to carry forward this tradition.

The launch also signaled the start of a new chapter with the airline’s first aircraft flying under the Gabonese flag, and plans were announced to expand the fleet with an Airbus A320 for medium-haul routes.

Established on February 7, 2024, Fly Gabon, under the umbrella of Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH), recently added a second ATR 72-600 to its fleet, acquired from Toulouse, France, on July 12, 2024. This aircraft, previously operated by Liz Aviation and Loganair, joins the first ATR72-600 in enhancing the airline’s service capabilities.

Fly Gabon aims to control 90% of the domestic routes by the end of 2024 and is gearing up to extend its reach to international markets, starting with Johannesburg, South Africa. This move is part of a broader strategy to establish a crucial air corridor for trade and industry, supported by ongoing negotiations with Airbus and leasing firms to acquire an Airbus A320.

This development in Gabon’s aviation landscape follows the strategic directives of Brigadier General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who outlined the importance of a national carrier in his first address as head of state. Opting to build on Afrijet’s established framework rather than starting from scratch, the Gabonese government secured a 56% stake in Afrijet, integrating it into the national aviation strategy.

Afrijet has been a formidable entity in the region since 2005, expanding from charter services to regular regional operations in October 2016 and is recognized for its comprehensive route network and employment opportunities across Central Africa.

As Fly Gabon takes to the skies, it not only revitalizes the legacy of Afrijet but also paves the way for renewed national pride and economic prospects in Gabon and across the region.