Fly Gabon, Gabon’s national airline, has acquired a new Airbus A320 on lease from a South African operator to expand its African operations. This A320, featuring 16 business class and 120 economy class seats with a 6-hour flight range, will be used for twice-weekly direct flights from Libreville to Johannesburg, facilitating connections for passengers from various sub-regions. This acquisition signals a significant revival for Gabon’s aviation sector.

Fly Gabon’s fleet now includes seven aircraft: five ATR 72-600s, one CRJ 900, and a new Airbus A320 that arrived on July 25, 2025.

“Air Gabon” was the original national carrier, which went bankrupt. Then there was “Gabon Airlines” and now “Fly Gabon” which is the current iteration, with the government acquiring a majority stake in Afrijet to form it.

Timeline of Gabonese National Airlines

  • 1951: Compagnie Aerienne Gabonaise is founded, operating regional flights.
  • 1968: Becomes the national flag carrier, renamed Société Nationale Transgabon.
  • May 1977: Compagnie Nationale Air Gabon (commonly known as Air Gabon) is established after Gabon withdraws from the Air Afrique consortium. It is formed from the nucleus of Société Nationale Transgabon, with a mandate for long-haul international services.
    • Initial fleet: Three Fokker F-28s, two Douglas DC-6s, one Douglas DC-4, one de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo, and one Sud Aviation Caravelle.
    • Ownership: Gabonese government (70%) and Sofepag (30%, an Air France-associated company).
    • Expansion: Adds destinations like Nice, Paris, and Rome to its international network, and serves ten African nations in addition to 26 domestic destinations.
  • February 26, 1979: An Air Gabon Douglas DC-6 crashes near Moanda, killing all occupants.
  • December 19, 2003: Air Gabon Flight 471 (a Boeing 737-300) overruns the runway, resulting in the aircraft’s destruction. No fatalities.
  • March 2006: Air Gabon ceases operations due to bankruptcy and financial difficulties.
  • 2007: The private company Gabon Airlines is created, concentrating on African and European flight services.
  • 2012: Gabon Airlines ceases operations.
  • April 2015: A second incarnation of Gabon Airlines is planned to be redeveloped as the flag carrier, but it does not commence operations.
  • February 7, 2024: The transitional government announces the creation of Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH), a new state-owned company to acquire stakes in local or foreign carriers.
  • March 12, 2024: FLAGH acquires a 56% majority stake in Afrijet, a prominent private Gabonese carrier, with the aim of building the new national airline.
  • August 31, 2024: Fly Gabon officially launches operations, building on Afrijet’s existing expertise and network, with an inaugural flight from Libreville to Port-Gentil. The airline initially focuses on domestic services.
  • July 25, 2025: Fly Gabon officially receives a new Airbus A320, marking a decisive step in its regional development strategy. This aircraft is leased and intended to serve main capitals in the sub-region and strategic destinations on the continent, including Johannesburg.

 

Air Gabon’s journey, as detailed in the timeline, is a tumultuous one marked by several attempts to establish a stable national airline for Gabon.

Here’s a summary:

  • Early Beginnings and Rise (1951-1977): The journey began in 1951 as Compagnie Aerienne Gabonaise, evolving into Société Nationale Transgabon, and finally becoming the full-fledged national carrier, Compagnie Nationale Air Gabon (Air Gabon), in 1977. This period saw expansion in its fleet and international reach.
  • Challenges and Decline (1979-2006): Air Gabon faced significant challenges, including a fatal crash in 1979 and a major incident in 2003 that destroyed an aircraft. These, along with ongoing financial difficulties, ultimately led to its bankruptcy and cessation of operations in 2006, leaving Gabon without a national flag carrier.
  • Failed Successors (2007-2015): Attempts to revive a national airline through Gabon Airlines (2007-2012) and a planned relaunch of Gabon Airlines in 2015 were unsuccessful, highlighting the difficulties in sustaining such an enterprise.
  • The Rise of Fly Gabon (2024-Present): After years without a consistent national airline, the Gabonese government made a strategic move in 2024 by creating Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH) and acquiring a majority stake in the existing private airline Afrijet. This led to the official launch of Fly Gabon in August 2024, building on Afrijet’s established infrastructure. The recent acquisition of an Airbus A320 in July 2025 signifies Fly Gabon’s ambition to re-establish and expand Gabon’s presence in regional and international aviation.

In essence, Air Gabon’s journey illustrates the complexities and financial challenges often faced by national airlines, particularly in smaller economies. It also shows a persistent effort by the Gabonese government to establish a strong national carrier, finally culminating in the current iteration with Fly Gabon.

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