Somalia edges closer to national airline relaunch

Somalia’s Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Farah Noor, has announced that the Federal Government will soon relaunch Somali Airlines, marking the national carrier’s long-awaited return to the skies after more than three decades.

Speaking in Mogadishu on Sunday, Minister Farah confirmed growing national momentum behind the airline’s revival.

“We have established the Board of Management for Somali Airlines and put in place the regulatory framework needed to guide its operations. We have also reached agreements with international partners and we have purchased modern 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,” he said.

The minister noted that the government has made progress in finalising operational plans and expects Somali Airlines to resume flights before the end of 2025. He also revealed that four new international airlines will begin operating in Somalia, joining the current eight carriers already flying to Mogadishu, including the Turkish Airlines.

Transformation

A major breakthrough came with the restoration of Somalia’s IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) after 33 years, a system designed to simplify and secure financial transactions between accredited travel agents and international airlines.

Farah stated that IATA is now preparing to restore Somalia’s BSP country code, a critical step toward fully reintegrating Somalia into the global aviation community.

Without the BSP, tracking and managing airline ticket sales would be nearly impossible, making its return a milestone in Somalia’s aviation recovery.

Somali Airlines, founded in 1964, once operated domestic and international routes before suspending operations in 1991 due to the civil war. Its return symbolises a broader transformation in Somalia’s aviation sector.

Progress

In the last two years alone, Somalia has achieved Class A Airspace, successfully restoring air traffic control services after a 30-year disruption and reclassifying its airspace to international standards.

Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport has been upgraded to ICAO’s highest standards for safety, security, and operational efficiency.

Further advances include the launch of world-class digital and security systems in 2025—e-Visa, eTA, mandatory API/PNR, and real-time Interpol/US data-sharing—alongside the ratification of seven global aviation security conventions.

Farah also highlighted the ongoing modernisation of Aden Adde International Airport.

In mid-2025, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud laid the foundation stone for a new Mogadishu International Airport, envisioned as a future transport hub for East Africa.