Gabon’s new flag-carrier FlyGabon plans to begin commercial operations at the end of the month, initially serving the domestic market.
The launch is part of the government’s strategy to revitalize the Gabonese air transport sector. It comes after the government acquired a majority stake in the airline Afrijet through a company called Fly Gabon Holding.
Following the move, Afrijet will operate under two distinct brands: FlyGabon for domestic routes and Afrijet for regional flights. However, it is expected that FlyGabon will expand its network to include international routes before the end of the year, with Johannesburg a key target.
“After the disappearance of Air Gabon a few years ago, the creation of FlyGabon is a real source of pride for our nation,” Afrijet CEO Nyl Moret-Mba says.
He adds that FlyGabon aims to serve all nine provinces of Gabon once airport infrastructure meets commercial standards, enhancing accessibility and offering affordable pricing to help combat the high cost of living.
FlyGabon will initially operate one ATR 72-600 aircraft, with a capacity of 72 passengers. A second aircraft is expected to join the fleet by the end of September. The airline’s first flight will take place on Aug. 31.
The government says it also plans to add an Airbus A320 before the end of the year that will be deployed on international routes.
Gabon’s previous national carrier, Gabon Airlines, operated from 2007 until it ceased operations in 2012, with unsuccessful attempts to relaunch it in 2015. Before that, Air Gabon served as the national airline from 1977 until it went bankrupt in 2006.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Afrijet is the largest operator in Gabon at the present time, offering 34.3% of all departure seats from and within the Centra African country. Ethiopian Airlines, Air France and Turkish Airlines are among the 14 carriers that also serve Gabon at the present time.
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