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Founded | 2024 |
---|---|
Commenced operations | 2025 |
Operating bases | Freetown International Airport |
Fleet size | 1 |
Destinations | 2 |
Key people | Emmanuel Iza (CEO) |
Website | flysierraleone.com |
Air Sierra Leone is the flag carrier of Sierra Leone. The airline commenced operations with its maiden flight from the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown to Lagos, Nigeria, in January 2025. [1] The airline originally announced that its first flights would be to London, a route that has previously been operated by British Airways and latterly by Fly Salone. It was also reported that the airline would launch flights to the USA. [2]
Air Sierra Leone had announced that it would commence flights between Freetown and London Gatwick Airport in December 2024 using a Boeing 737-8 chartered from Ascend Airways. This did not happen because of delays in gaining regulatory approval and launching a ticket sales platform. [3]
Instead, Air Sierra Leone's first flight was from Freetown to Lagos to Freetown on 22 January, 2025. [4] The flight used a smaller Embraer ERJ-145 which does not have the range to fly to London. [1] [5]
The airline has plans to expand to other West African capitals including Accra, Monrovia, Abidjan, Dakar, Conakry and Banjul in future. [5] It is banned from flying in the European Union. [6]
Country | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nigeria | Lagos | Murtala Muhammed International Airport | ||
Sierra Leone | Freetown | Freetown International Airport | Hub | |
United Kingdom | London | Gatwick Airport | [7] | |
Air Sierra Leone's fleet consists of one leased Embraer ERJ-145 registered as 5N-BZZ. The airline is reportedly is in the process of acquiring a larger plane for flights between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.
Aircraft | Number | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Embraer ERJ-145 | 1 | — | 50 | Wet leased from XEJet in Nigeria. |
Total | 1 | — |