New Gabonese carrier, FlyGabon, has said it intends to start operations from its Libreville hub on August 31, according to industry publication, Aviation Week.
Initially, it will launch flights for the domestic market, but it has voiced its desire to fly on international routes before the end of this year, with Johannesburg a key target.
The Gabonese government has acquired a majority stake in the airline Afrijet through a company called Fly Gabon Holding, and Afrijet will operate under two brands: FlyGabon for domestic routes and Afrijet for regional flights.
FlyGabon will initially operate one ATR 72-600 aircraft, with a capacity of 72 passengers. A second aircraft is expected to join the fleet by the end of September.
The airline plans to add an Airbus A320 before the end of the year and it is expected that this will be deployed on international routes such as Johannesburg.
Gabon’s previous national carrier, Gabon Airlines, operated from 2007 until 2012, and prior to that, Air Gabon was the national airline from 1977 until it went bankrupt in 2006.
Afrijet is represented by APG in the South African market, and bookings can be made on the GDS under the code GP275.