Monday October 27, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali Minister of Transport and Civil
Aviation announced on Sunday that Somali Airlines will resume operations by the
end of this year.
Minister Mohamed Farah Nuuh said the aircraft and related
equipment for Somali Airlines are ready and that the national carrier will
officially be re-launched within the remaining months of the year.
"I want to tell the Somali people that I am happy to
announce we will re-launch Somali Airlines before the end of this year,"
said Minister Mohamed Farah Nuuh.
The minister also discussed plans for the development of
Aden Adde International Airport and other airports across the country, noting
that 72 airports are in need of repair and modernization.
"We need to show the world that our airports can be
trusted and make them at least comparable to those of our neighboring
countries, if not developed nations. Currently, 15 airports across the country
are undergoing renovations, some of which are nearing completion. The Somali
people and politicians must respect the rule of law and avoid disrupting
airport operations," Minister Nuuh added.
In July 2025, the Somali government announced the purchase
of two Airbus A320 aircraft — a major step toward reviving Somali Airlines,
more than three decades after the national carrier ceased operations following
the collapse of central authority in 1991.
Founded in 1964, Somali Airlines once connected Mogadishu to
major cities across East Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. It suspended
operations amid the civil war that led to the disintegration of national
institutions.
Since then, a mix of international and regional airlines —
including Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, flydubai, and Qatar Airways —
have operated regular flights to Mogadishu and other key cities. Regional
carriers such as Daallo Airlines, Freedom Airline Express, Jubba Airways, and
African Express Airways have maintained vital domestic and cross-border routes.
However, Somalia has remained without a national flag carrier since 1991.