Business
Somali Airlines Set to Return After 35 Years
Somalia’s national carrier is set to resume scheduled flights in mid-September 2026, ending a 35-year suspension triggered by the country’s 1991 civil war collapse. The federal government has framed the relaunch as part of a broader infrastructure revival and a bid to restore Somalia’s standing in international aviation.
The airline, founded in 1964, has acquired two Airbus A320s to launch operations, with plans to expand the fleet to five aircraft. Flights will initially cover domestic and regional African routes before extending to historic destinations in the Middle East and Europe. Operations will be based at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
Somalia’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has set up regulatory oversight and named a management board to ensure safety compliance ahead of the launch. This marks the government’s third attempt at a relaunch, after an earlier target of late 2025 was missed following the initial aircraft purchase.