Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is preparing to relaunch Somali Airlines in the coming months, marking the national carrier’s first return to service since it was grounded more than 30 years ago during the civil war, the country’s transport minister said Sunday.
- Government says management, regulation and fleet plans are in place as the carrier enters final operational planning.
- Two Airbus A320s have been acquired; additional jets are slated from 2026.
- IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan access is being reinstated after 33 years, a key commercial reset.
- Airspace control, airport upgrades and new traveler data systems are reshaping Somalia’s aviation sector.
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Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Farah Noor said the Federal Government has completed several foundational steps, including forming a management board, establishing a regulatory framework, securing international partnerships and purchasing new aircraft. “We are confident that very soon our national airline will return to the skies, flying the Somali flag proudly across Somalia and around the world,” Farah said.
As part of the relaunch, officials announced in late July 2025 that Somalia had acquired two Airbus A320s under an agreement with Lima Holding Group, with the aircraft expected to become operational within two months. Authorities said additional jets, including larger models for long-distance routes, will be added to the fleet beginning in 2026, supported by Somali pilots and aviation personnel trained abroad.
A major milestone in the revival effort is the restoration of Somalia’s access to the International Air Transport Association’s Billing and Settlement Plan for the first time in 33 years. The BSP system manages financial transactions between global airlines and travel agencies. IATA is now preparing to reinstate Somalia’s BSP country code, a move officials say is essential for tracking ticket sales and reconnecting the country to standard commercial aviation systems.
The government says it has also restored Class A airspace and reestablished air traffic control after a three-decade disruption, bringing Somalia’s airspace management back into alignment with international standards. Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport has undergone upgrades to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s highest benchmarks for safety and operational efficiency.
Further reforms set for 2025 included the contentious rollout of e-visa and electronic travel authorization systems, mandatory advance passenger information and passenger name record requirements, and real-time data-sharing with Interpol and U.S. authorities. Somalia has also ratified seven global aviation security treaties to strengthen compliance and international cooperation.
Farah said four additional international airlines are preparing to enter the Somali market, joining the eight already flying to Mogadishu, including Turkish Airlines. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year laid the foundation for a new Mogadishu International Airport, envisioned as a future transport hub for East Africa.
Marking International Civil Aviation Day, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre praised the sector’s progress and said the restoration of airspace control and expansion of international connectivity reflect Somalia’s broader recovery. He credited the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport for leading what he called a transformation from collapse to a functioning, internationally recognized aviation system.
Founded in 1964, Somali Airlines once operated domestic and international routes before suspending service in 1991. Its planned return now carries both symbolic weight and practical significance as Somalia rebuilds national institutions and reconnects to global aviation networks.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
