Air Sierra Leone Scheduled to Begin Operating on December 2, 2024
On December 2nd, 2024, Air Sierra Leone is set to commence operations with a 6-hour flight from Freetown (FNA) to London Gatwick (LGW). The Sierra Leone Transport and Aviation Minister has announced the launch of a new private airline as a private venture to offer passengers travel options.
Theo Edwards for YAME DigitalUPDATE: Expanding the article will reveal more information about the Fly Air Sierra Leone website and its inclusion on the European Union (EU) Aviation Safety List.
Fly Air Sierra Leone
Launched October 12, 2024
On December 2nd, 2024, Air Sierra Leone is set to commence operations with a 6-hour flight from Freetown (FNA) to London Gatwick (LGW). The Sierra Leone Transport and Aviation Minister, Hon Fanday Turay has announced the launch of a new private airline as a private venture aimed at offering travel options for passengers.
**ALERT: December 3, 2024** - The launch of the flagship route to and from London Gatwick by Air Sierra Leone has been delayed. As a result, the flight booking website for this route is currently unavailable. This delay is due to logistics and operational readiness issues.
〰️
**ALERT: December 3, 2024** - The launch of the flagship route to and from London Gatwick by Air Sierra Leone has been delayed. As a result, the flight booking website for this route is currently unavailable. This delay is due to logistics and operational readiness issues. 〰️
In a recent update to the Air Safety List, the European Union (EU) Aviation Safety Board has imposed operating bans or restrictions on air carriers that do not meet international safety standards. This includes a ban on all air carriers certified by the regulatory authorities of Sierra Leone. These measures are intended to ensure that only airlines adhering to established safety standards can operate in EU airspace.
The EU Air Safety List: The EU Air Safety List contains two lists: The first list (Annex A) includes all airlines banned from operating in Europe. The second list (Annex B) includes airlines that are restricted from operating under certain conditions in Europe. Both lists are updated regularly and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Click the button to Preview or Download the Excel spreadsheet of The EU Air Safety List.
Developing: This article will be updated as new information is made available.
UPDATE: November 20, 2024: Fly Air Sierra Leone – Flight Booking Website.
“As a new airline, Air Sierra Leone is committed to offering world-class service emphasizing safety, comfort, and seamless connectivity.”
CLICK HERE on the Air Sierra Leone photo to Check Offers and Manage Bookings.
Phone Contact Information: 'CLICK HERE'
Air Sierra Leone provides direct flights from Freetown to major international hubs, starting with its flagship route to London Gatwick. The airline aims to facilitate seamless travel that creates new opportunities for business, tourism, and cultural exchange, effectively connecting Sierra Leone to the world and beyond.
A safety concern was raised previously.
“One of the three aircraft, the ERJ operated by Nigeria’s XeJet Aviation, the Embraer ERJ-145LR registered as 5N-BZZ, previously documented as N846HK, had its airframe information verified using data from accident investigation authorities. At the time, the runway 18L surface was contaminated with water due to heavy rainfall. ”
The aircraft in question was confirmed by accident investigation authorities to have experienced a serious runway excursion during its landing at approximately 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the domestic terminal of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. The incident caused damage to the aircraft's nose landing gear and both main landing gears. The NSIB has released a preliminary report summarizing the sequence of events. For more details, Click HERE.
The situation regarding the Embraer ERJ-145LR, registration 5N-BZZ, previously N846HK. The aircraft formerly operated under the national carrier Xejet. The Chief Executive Officer for Xejet, Emmanuel Iza is also the CEO of the now-rebranded Air Sierra Leone and may now appear to be planning to use the same plane, 5N-BZZ, to fly Sierra Leoneans on regional routes.
“UPDATE: October 26, 2024: Air Sierra Leone Delays the Launch of Flight Bookings from Freetown to London Gatwick due to technical issues.”
Air Sierra Leone issued an apology to customers for the inconvenience caused. The airline emphasized its commitment to delivering excellent service, and its team is actively working to resolve the technical issues.
The airline had planned to open bookings for the new service on October 18, 2024, but cited technical issues as the reason for the delay.
The article will be updated as new information becomes available.
The new airline is to operate under a UK Air Operating Certificate (AOC) as it progresses towards obtaining its own Sierra Leonean AOC in the near future. This strategic move ensures that we meet international standards while expanding our global presence.
The airline will operate a fleet of three aircraft: two Boeing 737s with seating capacities of 189 and 149 passengers, and an Embraer aircraft with a capacity of 50 seats.
In May 2022, Xejet signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sierra Leone government to operate Air Sierra Leone, the national carrier. Emmanuel Iza serves as Xejet's Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Hon. Kabineh M. Kallon signed the original MoU on behalf of the government.
Source: EFCC probes Xejet Airline.
RELATED
Sierra Leone has implemented a "Visa On Arrival" policy, effective from Thursday, 5th September 2019.
“To apply for a “Visa upon Arrival,” you must complete the eVisa online application.””
To apply for a "Visa upon Arrival," you must complete the eVisa online application days before departure for approval processing. The eVisa single entry application fee is US$80 plus applicable fees (US$4.27 at the time of this update information) for credit card processing. To start the eVisa application click the link ‘Welcome to Government of Sierra Leone eVisa Application System.’ Note: Check your email inbox including the Spam folder for ‘Code’ to log in.
Apply for your VISA in 3 easy steps or check on the status of your application
Select nationality, visa type and fill required application form
Submit electronic application and payment
Receive confirmation of your visa application status via email
If you need help or have any questions, please contact the Sierra Leone Immigration: Phone number: +232 30 769115 | Email: info@slid.gov.sl | Address (for the record): 14 Gloucester Street, Freetown
Applying for your 'Security Pass' online.
Applying for your 'Security Pass' online, click the link 'Welcome to Securipass' and follow the online dialog.
Theo Edwards for YAME Digital
Air Senegal to launch Geneva and London; Milan, Madrid, Rome next?
Abidjan, Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Freetown, Nouakchott, and Praia are available over Dakar on a two-way basis, with connections within about two hours in both directions. London – Freetown, for example, is a market of ~36,000 passengers, with timings as follows:
Freetown – Dakar: 1945 – 2230; Dakar – London: 0015 – 0625
London – Dakar: 0750 – 1405; Dakar – Freetown: 1600 – 1845
By Theo Edwards: Source: anna aero (airline network news and analysis)
Air Senegal has announced both Geneva and London, its fourth and fifth destinations in Europe
By Theo Edwards: Source: anna aero (airline network news and analysis)
Abidjan, Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Freetown, Nouakchott, and Praia are available over Dakar on a two-way basis, with connections within about two hours in both directions.
Air Senegal’s growth continues. In December, it added Dakar to Lagos via Accra; Abuja via Niamey; Casablanca; and Barcelona via Marseille. Freetown via Banjul is coming in June. The carrier is focusing significantly on hub-and-spoke, in contrast to the previous point-to-point Senegal Airlines. A highly coordinated hub is an obvious strategy for Air Senegal, partly given its geographic position.
Air Senegal has announced both Geneva and London, its fourth and fifth destinations in Europe. The carrier is to lease two 165-seat A321s – 149 economy seats, 16 lie-flat business – for these routes, and also for Abidjan, Casablanca, and Conakry.
Shown here are its West Africa – North Africa / Europe – West Africa connections, all well coordinated for connectivity over Dakar. Other African cities, such as Accra and Lagos, are timed to connect with other cities in West Africa (i.e., most of those that Europe connects with) rather than to Europe. Source: OAG Mapper.
Green = already served or announced. Blue = unserved. Geneva and London will be served non-stop. Marseille and Barcelona are currently linked in a triangle. Perhaps the A220-300 will be used to serve some thinner destinations, such as Toulouse? Source: OAG Traffic Analyser.
Geneva has ~69,000 passengers; London ~108,000
Geneva is a market of ~69,000 (Dakar point-to-point and demand to connecting destinations), and it will be partly driven by demand from the United Nations. It’ll probably also attract some of Lyon’s ~65,000 passengers, at least non-stop to Dakar, given the two cities are only 93 miles apart. London is a market of ~108,000 (excluding non-stop traffic to Banjul). It is reported that Stansted was chosen due to no early morning slots at Gatwick, with Air Senegal’s timings (or very similar) crucial for connectivity over Dakar.
Up to eight connecting destinations so far over Dakar
Its timings are, of course, based on maximizing connectivity to/from West Africa. Although it does vary a little based on day, Abidjan, Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Freetown, Nouakchott, and Praia are available over Dakar on a two-way basis, with connections within about two hours in both directions. London – Freetown, for example, is a market of ~36,000 passengers, with timings as follows:
Freetown – Dakar: 1945 – 2230; Dakar – London: 0015 – 0625
London – Dakar: 0750 – 1405; Dakar – Freetown: 1600 – 1845
Milan, Madrid, and Rome next?
Air Senegal’s European routes each had 60,000+ passengers before starting. Barcelona, Geneva, and Marseille also had local Dakar traffic averaging 47% of their total. Presumably, Marseille (~64,000) and Barcelona (~75,000) – each a good-sized market – will one day benefit from being de-tagged and served non-stop by A321s rather than on a triangle basis by the A330-900.
The figure, (Top 10 European markets for Air Senegal), shows the estimated two-way demand for Dakar and Air Senegal’s eight connecting destinations in the year to November 2019. For fairness, these numbers exclude any non-stop passengers as they’d be less likely to switch. Excluding short-term demand impacts from the coronavirus, Milan (76,000), Madrid (63,000), and Rome (58,000) seem good contenders for Air Senegal’s future European expansion. As is Lyon itself (65,000), but that’s now less certain given Geneva.
Milan stands out. Its ~76,000 is based on ~41,000 indirect Dakar traffic. Air Italy currently operates Milan Malpensa – Dakar four-weekly by the A330-200. However, the carrier is to cease operating. Therefore, it is fair to add its ~78,000 non-stop passengers, meaning Milan is a potential market of ~154,000.