Somalia to Relaunch National Airline After Three Decades with Airbus Deal

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU:  Somalia is preparing to relaunch its national carrier, Somali Airlines, more than three decades after it ceased operations amid civil war and state collapse.

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuuh revealed that the government had signed a “rent-buy” agreement with Lema Air Group to acquire two Airbus A320 aircraft.

The deal, finalized at the office of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, signals a major step toward restoring Somalia’s presence in the skies.

“These aircraft are the foundation of Somali Airlines’ return. The government is committed to reestablishing a national carrier that meets international service and safety standards,” Minister Nuuh told reporters in Mogadishu.

The aircraft are expected to begin operations within two months. However, key details remain undisclosed, including the cost of the deal, the condition of the planes, whether new or used, and background on the Lema Air Group’s track record in aviation.

Somali Airlines was once a prominent symbol of national pride, operating routes across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe in its heyday. The airline ceased operations in 1991 after the collapse of the central government and the onset of civil war, which led to the disintegration of key state institutions.

The return of a functioning national airline is expected to enhance regional connectivity, improve business and humanitarian travel, and help integrate Somalia more closely into the East African and wider African economies.

The move is also aligned with the government’s broader efforts to strengthen national infrastructure and revive state-led services under its DanQaran reform agenda.

While the timeline is ambitious and questions remain about the airline’s operational readiness, the announcement has already stirred optimism across the country and among the Somali diaspora.

If successful, Somali Airlines could once again serve as a flying symbol of national resilience, an emblem of Somalia’s determination to rise from decades of conflict and reclaim its place on the world stage.